I had not thought of just using FireWire 400 instead of 800. Originally, I needed the speed when I was doing uncompressed 10-bit at 26-28 MBs/sec. For the past year however, I have been using an 8-bit DVCPRO codec that is 7 MBs/sec, so I can probably get away with using the drives at FireWire 400.
You are correct, I have acquired a few TBs over the past year and it’s probably time to consider a better permanent solution. Permanent in today’s world, meaning a few years.