Thanks. Appreciate your informed prediction. 'will pull out the remaining LS500s. Since firmware change seems unlikely, those units will never be suitable for the task at hand.
The task is temporary and flexible storage of incoming professional graphic files. Obviously, that dataset cannot have multiple other files e.g. thumbnails, inserted into the archive in passing. So the LS500s are out - and no-go for a few other tasks too, now that I think about it.
Buffalo marketing strategy is not my biz, but it sure looks like the LS500s are aimed specifically at home/amateur use for some common web/video activities. Kinda odd that the cheaper, lower-in-the line 220's may be cleaner, more biz friendly. 'Would the intended home users of the LS500s really be that put off by a firmware option interface switch to kill extraneous thumbnail files? 'especially if the default shipped from factory was left "on"...