an old topic - here is my comments. Indeed I do use an ESi32 and why not? But the biggest trick is to get the thing set up so you can upload sounds over scsi from your computer.
This little trick has taken me hours of trial and effort. Also I maxed it out. For me it was a bad purchase, I had a choice make the effort to make something of it, or bin it.
I upgraded the RAM to max for next to no money, bought the lates OS chips for a chap in the states (not much cost), bought a scsi card from the EMU blowout sale, again cost very little. Spent time on eBay and got for little money CDrom drives, Zip drive, Hard Disks, scsi enclosure etc.
Hooked it onto my scanner scsi card in a win95 100MHz PC. After MUCH effort got the whole package to work. So now I collate my wav samples on the PC, when ready upload them to the ESi, save on the hard drive. The system I have is a bit of a hassle but does work well.
My final trick is to burn my own CDroms, everything is in place just need sufficient data (samples) and I'm there.
So now I have a fully working ESi setup and am very pleased with it. I regulary use it for drum loops. No probs but it was a rough ride getting there.