I think it actually makes a lot of sense to build a diskless multimedia desktop now. One NFS server hidden somewhere in the garage, then a desktop that has a silent power supply and cooling system (read: Zalman), and the computer will emit zero noise! Perfect for watching movies, listening to/producing music and stuff. And it will automatically centralize daily backups too!
The trick would be to find a cheap gigabit switch with at least one 10G port.