So I just recently got back from Canada and am so happy that I was able to find SOTT on DVD--and it's a good quality DVD, not the same crappy version that was for sale a few years ago. It says it is licensed exclusively in Canada. So why is that? Why not available everywhere? I'm so glad to finally have this on DVD, I was practically leaping for joy in the store. But still, why so hard to find?

There is a PAL version available in the UK also.

The distributors of the original cinema print were bought out or became Atlantic Alliance which is based in Canada, so they had a proper cinema print to convert to DVD (in widescreen - something never available before on the VHS copies) which explains the quality. As well, somehow they must have retained the right to publish the film in certain countries directly but not America, seemingly without having to get permission from Prince (certainly he doesn't seem to have been involved).