I'd be interested in running DD-WRT from a virtual server! Perhaps a weekend project is in order...

Most people are not interested in nor can they see the difference, especially on a smaller TV. Also you have to consider that a DVD player works with any TV, new and old. To enjoy the benefits of BD, you really need a larger high resolution TV, and many people simply don't have one or if they do, don't care or feel that BD is worth twice the price.

If your IT department has (any) policy it would not be allowed in the first place. If you really need it, it should be in the computer room anyway. They should have the root password, and you should have an elevated user account. Ask yourself, what if that little server of yours gets hacked, do you really want that blood/liability on your hands?

Do what most do, vote with your feet the day Verizon runs fiber down your block. Cable calls my house every. single. day. - begging me to switch back.

Every year we have an auditor spend a few days going over all of our logs and network access rules to maintain our ROC. He even checks the patch history of servers having card holder data and inactive users still in AD.