My 209 (no RAID, but now wish I'd gone RAID0 for maybe better latency) is a media server and webserver, plus maybe a BT downloader if I ever get that to work!
The web server bit may be of interest to some:
I have cataloged all my DVD's using "DVD Profiler" and the UPC number on the barcode. A public database gives full details of the DVD, plus cover images (like Gracenote, but free). From DVD Profiler, I export the DVD database as XML.
From the XML file, a PHP application running on the 209 builds an alpha sorted master title index--some day I'll add category sub-indexes. This is only done when the PHP app determines the XML file has changed; data are written to flat files on the NAS. As well as the index, some of the XML metadata details like description, run time, etc are also cached as flat files for fast access. Each night, a cron job copies cover images to the web server images dir that don't exist. or are newer (cp -u).
The PHP page that provides the master DVD index is accessed on my TV via a Netgear EVA700 and WizD running on a Linux box (must try a cross compile of that for the ARM someday). So the Netgear displays the NAS provided PHP master index a page at a time (12 titles) on the TV. The remote (a Phillips Pronto 9600 with full VGA touch screen that can drive all the IR stuff in the house, plus send TCPIP commands to things on the network via G.11) lets me page around the collection. Each name links to a dynamic HTML page formatted from the cached metadata which shows the cover picture and details of the DVD (runtime, year, etc). This page has Play and Back buttons top and bottom. Back goes back to where you were in the master index, but Play...
I've ordered a de-zoned Sony ESX777 400 disc carousel. When this finally arrives, pressing "play" on the detail page will send RS232 codes to the 777 to select the disc (the slot is stored in the metadata maintained via DVD Profiler). The Pronto will also at this point switch the TV over from the Netgear Entertainer gizmo to the Sony, and reconfigure itself as a DVD controller (that much works right now for a different DVD player).
For the few DVDs I have that are double sided, I've converted them to AVI and stored them on the NAS. At the moment, I can play them through the Twonky menu, but if I can figure out a way, I'll get the "Play" on the info pages generated from the master index to serve them as if they were coming from a dual layer DVD (except no menu, nor chapters). This works great in SD over the wireless lan, but I suspect that when I go HD, I'll have to hard wire the LAN connection (and replace the EVA700 with an EVA8000).
The NAS also serves audiobooks through the household AV setup (B&O like the TV) using the Twonky, plus photos. Strangely, for music, I still prefer actual CDs! No real idea why...
