Using a Nec chipset for the project we will keep away all the issues related with the VIA chips in SF, and these USB cards are quite cheap indeed.

In the other hand FireWire is far better IMO than USB, and yes, once the driver is made, there are only a few classes to be made, since there are far less device available for Firewire, so IMO its easier to get it running and support it.
And of course all the pegasos have the very same chipset for it on mobbo, and this way only one configuration have to be supported.

FireWire will do the job for me too.

Maybe will have to contact Guido or Chris Hodges, in order to know if they would be intereset in such a bounty.

Guido, Chris! We want you for the navy!