If you are buying the retail package I would get Nero. It is cheaper and generally a better program. There isnt anything wrong with EZ CD Creator, but most people prefer Nero.
DirectCD is the packet writing component of the Roxio software (EZCD) and it has no particular problems on Win2k if you get a current version. DirectCD is probably better software than the packet writing component of Nero, which is InCD. InCD and DirectCD can have problems if you install them on the same computer, but you can have all the mastering software you want without conflict.
This is from CDRInfo which does good tests on CD writers:
Whether or not you are aware of it, Ahead Software's Nero Burning Rom is the reigning king of software burning suites. It is by far the standard to which all other programs are compared. Many of us will not even bother with the programs bundled by our drive manufactures and install Nero instead. That says a lot right there, as it's the standard we must compare all other burning suites to..