1) Per @kkn's request, I will move this to the Notebook section, for more people to be able to see it.
2) I do not know of any slot-load mods, since the front of the DVD drive is shaped to fit the outside profile of the laptop. This is a challenge to attach a panel that would keep the profile of the laptop, while still having space to get the DVD in and out of the drive.
3) For the keyboard, I have occasionally noticed missing keystrokes, but very rarely, so I don't know that it isn't my own sloppy typing that is causing the problems instead.
