Success with an SSD.

The one which came in is an Intel DC S3510 series. 80GB. I applied 1.10 via the CD, did a "Restore to New" and let it do its thing. Upon restart the unit came up significantly faster than it did with a spinning platter drive.

I'm going to see if I can find a 100GB version of same and try it. Should that not work I can always use these as data backups (like, to keep Central ISOs and my music libraries...), Suspect this is a drive geometry issue rather than I/O speed. Understandable given the architecture. Still, nice to use a drive which is less prone to crashes.