Are you assuming? As everyone in the tech world knows: DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING

*jk, your still right. But think about it these guys/gals that designed this thing are rather intelligent to over look the listed potential AES weaknesses. 

Good points.

Hitachi drives are shite to say the least, they fail willy nilly. Hitachi deathstars, reliability akin to staying perforation free in Iraq

M.J.R.

I might have to pick this up and replace my 320gb drive.

Especially since I already own 3 of the older ones. :P

Here's hoping for a 2 platter variant at 750GB -- Sweet spot for price per gigabyte.

continue to equate encryption algorithm with encryption strength. AES is fine, but a lousy implementation can kill it off - as any other algorithm: 
-Is the cypher key engraved on the casing? - do not do that.
- Is the cypher key a fixed string for the whole production batch? - do not do that 
- Is the PRNG not random at all? - do not do that.
etc. etc.