RE: starting out
The only way to have the DVD in HD is to burn to a Blue Ray disc. They make blue ray burners for computers too. I'm guessing not alot of people can watch a BlueRay disc. Not the majority anyway.
I just started filming my hunts this spring with an HV20. I downloaded the trial version of Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9. I love it. There is a learning curve to any editing software though. It took me all of the 30 day trial to get it finished the way i wanted it and get about 7 copies burned off. I don't plan on selling any of mine or getting into it as far as you plan, so i can't help you much there.
Give it try. It's free for 30 days.