That is very confusing. I'll just take your word for it, and stick to my player that seems to handle all my British DVD needs whether they're region 2 or 4 or both. It only lets me switch regions 5 times before it'll lock though so I can't watch any more American things. I'm okay with that though. The whole region thing seems very odd to me. I'm guessing it's some kind of licensing thing. It's not exactly the most practical system.
How to view British comedy online? Page 2
Yes, licensing and regional rights. It's not supposed to be practical for you. You're an afterthought. It's supposed to protect the interests of Hollywood studios.