Back Up/mod Questons... someone please help

I know you guys prolly get a bajillion of these types of threads but I'll be the first to admit, I'm a big time noob to all this modding stuff, I've always been interested in it but I've never got it done. However, it's time I stepped my game up lol. I've been talking to someone about modding my xbox, and I just wanna know somethings before I go ahead and do this... I know this sounds silly but I dont have the DVD burner or the modded xbox, I have the money to get everything, however I'm only gonna get this stuff if I can do it relatively easy... and buy the shit I need around here locally, I aint into going online and ordering shit.

So now that, that's all out of the way, I have a few questions... let me start by saying I'm very computer literate, just not when it comes to this... I've been doing alot of research online and I THINK I have a good understanding of how this works, it's just I haven't gotten a very clear answer on some things and hopefully SOMEONE CAN HELP lol. Oh yeah, btw... idk if it makes a difference but I have the BenQ xbox.

Ok, so here goes my understanding of the process: I take an xbox game... put it in any Dual Layer DVD reader/burner, use a program like Xbox Backup Creator to make an iso, then use CloneCD to burn the IMG to a DL DVD+R and bada bing bada boom... you got a perfect back up.

Now, here in lies my problems/questions... I heard you need a modded DVD burner or some shit to even read the xbox games correctly so you can rip them, then I hear you don't... this is something I gotta know cuz I'm not gonna shell out time and money to buy some shit that don't work, or tear my computer down if I don't have to. I also aint into the whole poppin a disc in and out of a half assembled drive either, I know there's easier ways to do it then that.

Then, whats the deal with using XBOX360 SS Merger to patch the .iso? Is that for pirated games or is that for actual back up? I'm really confused. I'm NOT trying to go online and download pirated copies of games... I just want to make copies of MY games, call me a weird-o but god forbid anything happen to them. Anyway, if someone can please help with me I'd greatly appreciate it... thanks!