Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
Like Thom said, fewer parts and less heat.Unless you are dualbooting with other OS, don't put a drive in your MD.
No, trust me on this one, leave the media directors as a PXE boot. Fewer moving parts.-Thom