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The design of USB (Specifically, the strict host-device idea) makes that utterly impossible without some extra hardware (Like this gadget) between the two systems.

Basically, I don't trust any enclosure to be a hard drive controller as well. Even higher-end boxes. If I want a controller, I'll use my motherboard, or a dedicated storage PC/server. Yes, I have tried many.

Even if they were trustworthy, I would want to avoid them. It's just one more thing to fail, have to update firmware for, track down drivers for, worry about, etc.

This is for your backups, right? Take a minimalistic approach. Just get shit that works. Hard drives work. You're just putting them in a case outside your case with my method.

And I wasn't joking about SAS either:
(Random links for fun. Always fun to look at site other than newegg.)

http://www.shopwiki.com/External+Mini-SAS+to+eSATA+Cable

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sas_controllers/

http://www.vantecusa.com/front/product/view_detail/354

Slap in some drives and rig up (or find on some Chinese site) a 12v AC adapter with 4 outputs and a few amps.

I've been pretty pleased with this little box:

http://www.vantecusa.com/products/avox/p_avx100tx. html (flash warning)

It takes any laptop harddrive and plays several popular video and audio formats. It's weak as an mp3 player, but it's great for movies and tv-shows.

I got mine for about $100 and it comes with a decent remote.

It has HD out as well as "regular" TV out. You hook it up via USB to your computer to put content on it.

I think they also make a bigger one takes 3.5" harddrives and has a network port.

The Vantec NexStar 3 enclosures stack very well (ignore the picture, the stand is removable). But if you need to eliminate some cables, these can stack 5 high with 1 USB and 1 power cable. They are a bit pricey though

2.5" (laptop)
  or
3.5"

My first drive I bought is a SmartDisk Firelite. They make USB and FireWire versions. These come with an HD pre-installed.

I have since bought a 2.5" enclosure - Vantec NexStar. This is a USB2.0 enclosure for 2.5" drives. Very handy for making use of old laptop drives. The best part is that these new ones pull power off the USB line. I can't speak to the FireWire drives.

I also have some high capacity 3.5" drives in external enclosures. One is a Metal Gear Box. The other is a Mad Dog. The Metal Gear unit is all aluminum with vented sides for maximum cooling. The Mad Dog is not so good for cooling. It is a tight fit and the outer case feels like plastic. Also, the Mad Dog plays havoc with AM radios. I suspect it is because it is a non-metal housing. Well, it says it is anodized aluminum, but it feels more like plastic.

Generally speaking, you will pay a lot more per GB for a pre-installed hard drive, compared with smart shopping for bargains on enclosures and drives.

Good luck.

Is the Vantec Aeroflow with TMD fans (that are very quiet).

uh, because with their thermal crap and the defauult fan, my proc ran over 130F. With artic silver and an aeroflow fan from vantec, my proc runs at 105F (115F under heavy load). Seems to me they are just trying to save a few bucks, afterall, the german economy has taken a hit lately. That is the problem here

Actually, the PC case acts as a giant speaker, amplifying the sound of the fans in the PSU (And any other case fans as well). A small, normally un-noticeable imbalance on one of the fan blades would make a little noise. Screw it in tightly to your PC and it starts to make your PC shake as well.
I think a smarter solution then an external PSU would be a Quiet PSU like the Vantec VAN-520a Stealth and mount it using rubber gaskets where the screws go. If you wanted to take it a step further you could build a rubber gasket around the entire PSU itself to reduce any vibrations even more.

My PC is very quiet because of this method. I have 4 case fans + 3 PSU fans and I can't hear any of them for the most part.

Check out this article over at TechTV from The Screen Savers on how to make a Quiet PC