dlink has got to be the worst networking gear you can buy. i am currently running openWRT on my Linksy WRT54G v3. I could recommend it still, except that V5 is becoming more popular, and it's got crappy hardware and no longer runs linux. the
Asus wg500 deluxe is has some nice hardware (200 Mhz, 32 MB RAM, 4MB flash). Buffalo also makes some nice routers that can run linux e.g.
http://www.buffalotech.com/products/...8&categoryid=6 this one w/ 266 MHz processor, 64 MB ram, and 8 MB flash. I don't think it ocmes w/ USB, but i'm sure you could mod it to support it if yo uare good with soddering. I generally don't bother with firewalls on my individual machines b/c i run linux and don't have to worry about spyware. I do have iptables on my laptop, but don't always run it.