that stuff takes too long stev-o. here's a link to a youtube downloader if you wanna accomplish the first step in the process:
http://javimoya.com/blog/youtube_en.php
then after that you can use a .flv converter like "Super" to convert to .mpg or maybe even .wmv
http://www.erightsoft.net/SUPER.html#Down
like i said earlier the stuff might be too involved for most people to understand or even explain, but those are two key things you can use in order to convert youtube videos.
i usually only go thru the extensive hassle when I want something bad enough. and that will probably be the same case for anyone else who decides to undergo this hassle that youtube injects on us. you have to want it bad enough to read all the crap to learn this stuff, and download and install it and then gather the source files for conversion. total pain in the ass, and I'm not kidding, but it's truly a matter of how bad you want the clips usually.
plus some other dude recommended another different way that might be easier through a firefox browser plugin. there may be one for IE too but I've never bothered reading up on those methods.