Why don't you people just build your own *nux based rig to use as your media server? You can fill it with way more drives, and even run it live with Apache.
Spending money on a mac mini for $500 with a max (from Apple) 500gb SATA drive? You could buy 2 (1 TB) drives and use the leftover money for a case, processor, RAM, etc.. all coming out for under $1k. It would last you WAY longer than any mac mini would with confined casing space. Plus you could also upgrade it. Run XBMC, LinuxMCE, or hell even unRAID.
I think it's practical for college girls, older women, and metrosexual (wanna-be) fan boys.
I appreciate Apple, and I'm a minor fanboy, but I just realize that if there is an ability to do something better, for a better value, which is more logical, do it.