Probably B679 with you firmware don't have recording function included. You need downgrade to older firmware (same thing was on B650 and firmware version 300x).
Not at all. If my CI Module is not inserted, after reboot without module inserted FTA channels could be recorded well.
Notice that even if i remove CI module during tv operation, recordings can't be made. Only if tv was switched on again without CI module, recordings are okay. I'm studying CI+ documentation right now. Maybe there are some simple things to make CI+ working as simple CI (without plus).
I guess that our CI+ receivers could act like that: When CI+ module is (was) inserted, do not allow to record anything to protect content just in case.