I've been researching this very thing. As someone told me, I've probably spent more time looking around for a clone or way to program these PIC24s than it's worth. They're right, too.
Seems there's a new ICSP protocol for some of the new PICs. I know my JDM doesn't support it, so that's out. And a lot of the clones, even some from the original schematics and firmware, don't always include what's needed.
So when I can, it'll be the PicKit2 for me.
steve