This is my first ever post on a forum, so hopefully I have done things correctly.
For any members who may be interested, I have built a simple MiniDisc laser power meter which should prove cheap and reproducible. There seemed to be interest in such things before the forum's recent disappearance.
I have posted full details of my prototype here.-
https://billingtonrepairs.wordpress.com/projects/a-simple-diy-laser-power-meter-for-minidisc-decks/