I agree that embedded FTP would be one of the best things.
Next thing I saw mentioned that seems like a very good idea, but I think my idea is slightly different. A bootloader, like linux uses lilo/grub, to either boot dashboards, etc., or be able to load a full linux drive. So I guess not so much a bootloader, just a function that would allow it to boot either this or that. The reason for this would be for people that want to use multiple drives, and dont want to wire a relay, just flip the drive select switch and bam, instant linux, or xbmc, whatever you want. I think for the future of the scene having a bios that would dominate instead of having this and that, we need to have a specific format if development is to continue more rapidly, and this would be a start in that direction.
The other thing would be to have support for other file structures such as NTFS.
Alright, time to prepare for the flames. I have been reading up on installing Windows on the Xbox, there are several issues with this. Before I go into this I will now say I am not really a big fan of the idea, but I am working on a multi-drive project now focusing on simplicity, and well, windows is a lot simpler than linux so. I know 1 is ram and processor power, Friendtech has resolved these issues for us with their upgrades. We know also that Windows on the Xbox is possible through a few methods, all of which require it to run within linux which is causing a lot of the slowdown people are complaining about. I have been unable to confirm the validity of this, but I have also read several reports of problems with Windows running because of the checks that are run on bootup, it fails, so will not boot. I realize that there are different kernals the Xbox uses, but it would seem there should be ways around this with everything else the scene has made happen for the Xbox. I believe if the bios were hacked appropriately to start bootup like normal, then go on to do whatever PC bioses do that allow you to use either windows or linux. Yea, hope that makes sense, flame if you will.