Second, if I will AI upscale the episodes, I want to use uncompressed video files, and then compress them after the upscale. Maybe 720p would be more than enough? Maybe 1080p? I don't expect 1440p or 4k to improve the viewing experience much over 1080p

Lastly, in Norway, ripping DVDs for own use is specifically legal. The act of format shifting or making straight up copies at least of music got legal precidence about 20 years ago. I don't remember exactly, just remember watching the news. Reasoning was, for the sake for format shifting, or making backups to preserve your original. Giving away, lending, or selling your backups was strictly made illegal, except if the original is included when you sell your backup. As well you can't make a backup and sell the original without destroying the backup or including it with the sale.

One of the guys credited with breaking the dvd encryption was Norwegian. He didn't do it alone, and last time I called him the guy who broke thebencruption, someone on reddit yelled at me. He had the code printed on a t-shirt, and used it in every interview on TV. There FBI had an arrest warrant out for him, he even won an award he didn't attend in the US. The warrant was later recended or something I don't know, because he did move to the US in the end.

Final thoughts. I think my ps3 can be used to rip dvd's using home brew? I might not need to buy a usb drive if I don't want to.