Thanks for the information fcgriz and awilso.
I guess Firewire seems to be at least one thing settled. Cost, while important, is hard to calculate in my circumstances. It might be cheaper for me to buy a pre-built in the US and send it priority mail to Switzerland. I suppose the problem with that is if or when it goes tits-up, I would have to send it back to the States. That said, the selection here is pretty lame.
Cheers.