I would go the linux route as well but am afraid I would not be able to get it to do what I wanted. Windows has alot of apps that can "help" you achieve the results you want and I feel that with linux I would be stuck writing scripts and custom apps. Linux does have ALOT more functionality than Windows and you can get it do just about anything you want as long as you can program it yourself.
Just my opinion.
Sorry to jack your thread WannaTheater but it looks like you got it working ok, so the "jack" is legal, right