It's all down to drive sensitivity. The difference between on and off is less on a Rewritable CD Drive (3dB or 30dB, there's a three in there somewhere!). Very old drives had good sensitivity, but tended to have trouble going at higher speeds, so they started lowering the sensitivity (and using cheaper components) so drive manufactures could set higher MAXIMUM read speed. (Not that the drive ever reached that speed mind you!).
As someone said, when CD-RW came out drives had there sensitivity turned up again. So in answer to your questions most of the very old drives work, the later ones all work, it's those in the middle that have trouble (we're talking about when 12 and 24 speed were top of the range). Some work, some don't. So unforunately you just have to suck it and see!
Any other questions about technology behind old hardware just ask!
