PH, thanks for your nice compliment,

to you too, and Bupie, thanks for your extensive feedback. Discussing music and tipping each other is one of my favorite activities (well, more precisely my second fave, the first doesn't belong here (it's not a French site, Bupie)).

Yeah, I just checked up Suspended Animation on Amazon.com, and it's not there either. But the record company will have to make some extra copies. I mean, it's Petrucci ....
Re Elements Of Persuasion, I'm surprised about your take on it, Bupie. It got praised highly by Amazon reviewers, like:
Anyone who likes early Dream Theater 'Images and Words' and 'Awake' will probably enjoy this. It sounds more DT-like than their more recent releases, even though there are no other DT members involved. I'd say it's as good as those early albums, even without Petrucci, Moore and Portnoy. - Mr. K. I. Fairbrother
I can understand the need for James to do solo work as he doesnt get much space to stretch out lyrically on DT releases, he is usually relegated to penning one solitary track on each album.... Buy this, its great! - dagonlives
Did you give it the prog-obligatory three runs, Bupie?
Thanks for the other comments too, corroborates (we need some of these fancy words in the Room too) my desire to get the albums.
Nicky.