Trust me, I get the simplicity part. I would not choose to use the Mac mini as my front end, though on a headphone setup, it is a piece of cake. I would not choose to use the Apple remote for this purpose. Almost any one of the UPnP server/client setups can achieve the same simplicity. For example, the Linn Kinskey client on my iPad/iPhone works well with my EMM server, but I still prefer the PS Audio EMM remote clients. Very simple, great artwork, etc. And I don't worry about SSDs [though I will likely eventually replace my large hard drives with an SSD array as prices come down], integer mode, power supplies, etc., because—and this is the critical part—
the computer is not the player or front end. Yeah, I use an Apple remote to control my AppleTVs, but not for anything else. The software on an iPhone/iPod/iPad is way easier.
In my case, here is my workflow:
1. Rip CDs using Rip to AIFF; rips SACDs using my PS3 and convert to AIFF AudioGate.
2. I still use iTunes as my "base container," because all the AppleTVs and computers in the house can access that core library of 17,000+ tracks, so all new music is loaded into iTunes;
3. I use CarbonCopyCloner to automatically copy tracks to my Synology 411+ NAS [which is accessible to my Oppo and other front ends] and to the Mac mini server;
4. The mini is headless, and is connected to the network via Ethernet, does not run Bluetooth, so all it does is run the server software; the PWD makes USB issues irrelevant; the EMM library is automatically reloaded on a periodic basis to capture new files;
5. I also script automatic file/hard drive, etc., maintenance tasks for weekend wee hours so I don't worry about the storage, and of course all files are backed up offsite [in my case, using BackBlaze];
6. Once I week, I automatically convert new AIFF additions to 256k np3 for copying to the 500gb hard drive in the car.
All the "complexity" if one thinks of it that way, as in your setup, is in the ripping and copying; once done, everything else automatic, and everything else very simple, and the EMM interfaces a pleasure to use. So simple, my daughters and girlfriend are not merely unafraid to use it, but actually enjoy using it. And there is zero obsolescence.
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