robo45h, thanks - you are right, it seems like it is actually a lot easier than it sounded. The bit about a USB hotsync working from the cradle while a network hotsync works from the i500 is great (since it sounds like once you set it up you won't have to reconfigure again in between!). I'll try it. I'm lucky in that my office PC has a static IP; I just have to hope that the right ports are open. If this works, then my last needs to be connected on the go are answered! Like SpineDoc said before, I don't know why Sprint doesn't make a big deal out of advertising this feature!

P.S. By the way, can you enable separate conduits for USB vs network hotsyncs? - it might be faster to keep the network sync limited just to basics...