Setup with swappable HDDs instead of NAS possible?

Hi folks,

I am looking for a way to use XBMC in an environment with several HDDs and without a NAS. The HDDs are not RAID-combined in any way, just plain NTFS formatted single drives. I don't want to use a NAS because:

1. no place to fit an "always-on" device
2. as XBMC is the only client I actually don't need storage that is always available for other clients. If XBMC isn't running the storage shouldn't be running as well.
3. having ALL media accessible ALL the time will make the XBMC database very crowded and confusing - I don't like to search by using filters, I'd like to "browse" but I won't if there is too much to browse...
4. whatever NAS I would buy, at some point the number of HDDs will exceed its capacity (and racking up NAS devices isn't an option)
5. NAS devices for 10+ HDDs aren't that cheap
   

Currently I am using a device similar to the SHARKOON QuickPorts (see http://www.sharkoon.com/?q=en/overview/15) that holds one HDD at a time.

What is the best way to configure and use XBMC with mass storage that can and will be swapped frequently? The main problem seems to be the XBMC database which has to be "swapped" with the media. I know that you can change the location of this database in XBMC so maybe moving it onto the media itself is the way to go? But I don't believe XBMC will be happy if someone just takes away its database while running (opened files, caching, etc..). Using profiles in XBMC might do the trick but then you have to log off and on again for each swap which isn't perfect as well (iOS remote app not working when logged off, see http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...d1372858).

Has anyone here have a solution for this particular (rather unusual) setup?

Thanks in advance,
sLoP :-)