I think the price is almost same when comparing with our dedicated PC server. When setting up a PC server, you have to add the costs for additional HDD, RAM, telephony card etc in the unit.
Looking the face from another side, the advantage is that it provides 8 FXO ports against the 4 ports only as planned in our PC. Also, you can get it up and running immediately when it is on your hand. For dedicated PC server, we have to regulate, mix and match to merge everything to suit our needs.
Agree with you that 8 ports are too many for home users.
Lets check the overall usrs comments on this system over the net.
I believe one can ssh to the box to make further custom adjustment. It is slightly more expensive on the same kind of backbone hardware but it has a metal case.