>>> Incidentally many DVD players can be "hacked" to make them multi-region. Usually just by pressing a sequence of buttons (may take a bit of searching to locate you particular model).
Sadly, that's no longer true. Manufacturers used to make all DVD players in 'multi-region' format and then simply add on the region coding on at the end of the production process. However movie distribution companies saw that as an infringement of their licensing terms and forced manufacturers to 'hard code' DVD players, so that they can no longer be hacked.
However a very small number of multi-region DVD players (from obscure Chinese manufacturers) are still available from Amazon. e.g.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation
As only a fairly small percentage of DVDs that were/are issued in Region 1 format ever make it to DVD, it might be worth investing in such a player.