I have sold a couple of VRQs before the Escient product was shipping...
and yes, I went through all of the bugs, loading the cover art manualy, and the hours of grooming of the database to clean up the TV show box sets...

I have been considering selling a couple of the Escient SED-1's to some clients I have who have more modest systems.

Either way, whether your are a hardcore server guy (like Ed), or a controller guy, I think that ANY type of DVD server or controller would be among the best investments in HT hardware that the average person could make to allow more convenient use if their HT.