When trying to open a DV-avi with AviSynth, I got the errormessage:
The DV-avi itself can be played back without problems, and when consulting GSpot, it lists a suitable codec and renders flawlesslyAVISource: couldn't locate a decompressor for fourcc DVSD
[SOLUTION]
I've told ffdshow to take care of decompressing DV (verify this change with GSpot).
Now it works.
Although this ain't a real explanation for why it didn't work in the first place, but it helps.