depending on how many in/outs you need HC, perhaps you should check out the new alesis mixers being released next month - alesis multimix firewire.
The 12 channel version is being released first - 12 simultaneous channels over firewire to your daw at 24/48 (the converter quality may be questionable in a unit with so many specs for $400USD)
However, you get 4 xlr inputs w/phantom power, and generally the unit is quite a decent, sturdy looking bit if gear (and it isnt behringer...)
Im sure the converters on the RME would walk all over the ones in the multimix - its just something that caught my eye that I thought would go nicely with my TI (if either of these products ever actually ship
http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=40
If you might be interested in a breakout box - try Echo Audio's new Audio Fire8 - 8 in/out 24/96 - s/pdif - wordclock - 113db dynamic range - looks nice... same price as the RME card you are looking at.
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/Fi...ire8/specs.php
cheers
blay