Yay for SVP here aswell.
With regard to media lifetimes, it's no different to CD-R. Buy good quality media (it's doesn't have to be the most expensive, just avoid the cheapest). And most important store it properly. Keep it out of sunlight, away from heat and moisture. In other words buy proper cases for it.
I use SVP's DJ style cases for backup storage:
http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk/acatalog/rigidcase.html
Don't touch RAM myself (-R/-RW only for me) so can't suggest any specific product.