I want to buy a new dvd/ vcr combo player.

This is what I have:
TV: 2 years old, surround sound/dolby compatible, HD
Home Speaker system: 1 years old, surround sound, digital dolby

My current DVD/VCR combo is NOT dolby / surround sound. None of my VCR tapes are either, but my DVDs are. Plus, I can't leave it all hooked up and watch TV, because the sound goes through the combo and I lose the dolby, so I have to leave the combo disconnected and, when we want to watch something, I have to go attach and shift wires first.

None of my current equipment is Blu Ray.

Questions:
Do I buy a new combo unit that IS Blu Ray, or will that give me new issues?
I don't really NEED Blu Ray, don't have any dvd's of that sort. (Blu Ray came out after VCRs were old, so none of those are). Not sure what Blu Ray is, a feature (so I can ignore it) or the new technology (I may want to get it).

What else do I need to know, in picking a new combo unit?

Thanks!