Sony DSR-DR1000 Hard Disk DVCAM recorder

Is anyone using one of these with a Final Cut Studio system? I have the chance to purchase one at a high discount, but I'm not sure if it's useful enough. My questions:

1) The unit I'm looking at has a lot of fan noise. Is this typical?

2) Is there a way to use it like other hard disc recorders, i.e. take the recorded files directly off the system and import them into FCP?

3) Are there any other advantages to using this versus say a Citidisk or Firestore?

Thanks,

Eliot