[djrogers]

Presumably they want a little more control over how data is written and stored on the device than they would get with a simple eSATA connected drive.

If they use a simple eSATA drive, they have to worry about formatting, layout, etc., whereas an ethernet connected drive with a bespoke client can hide/control all of that for Amazon.

It also gives them easier options for multi-drive, SSD caching, RAID, etc - things they may or may not use today but could without any impact on the end user.

* Also, it's 10Gb ethernet. And how many desktops do you have laying around that will recognize a 50Tb eSATA drive?