Swap magic is easy enough, easy to set up too. It'll play every region PS2 game, and if you want to burn them (backup or download) then you can do that too (have to burn it a certain way though).

I just keep swap magic in all the time, it loads up and I swap it out for an imported PS2 title and it runs fine. Plus, heaps cheaper than a modchip or another region's PS2.