Yeah man back when Walmart was clearancing out those PNY 512GB USB SSDs I put like 12 of them into a software RAID0.
One of them promptly failed after trying to run CrystalDiskMark for a second time and I tossed them all in a drawer where they rest to this day
I have a DL360 G10. Same server but 1U.
The server is quiet as hell already. I have it in my basement though, but honestly I don't notice it next to my R720s.
My power draw right now is 119W. I have 6 SSDs and 12 DIMMs, with 12 VMs currently on it.
I use eBay exclusively tbh
Google Photos. We pay for 2TB and have all the family member slots loaded up. It's perfect because my parents and my in-laws all use Android phones.
MakeMKV. Don't re-encode them.