Data inherits its hosting requirements like so much         DNA from business                   processes and applications.  Platform resources and                 services should be defined         only after requirements are        fully understood.  One size          fits most architecture never fits anyone's data well! 

Containing costs and allocating storage capacity efficiently requires Storage Resource Management.  You should prefer an SRM solution that gives you an application-centric view of storage infrastructure to ease troubleshooting.  Standardize on an SRM product, then only buy platforms that can be managed with that product.

Storage "plumbing" alternatives   are in no short supply.  Every  option has its value, and the     right plumbing is the one that supports the data         movement and access             requirements that you are expecting.  Choose wisely.

Eschew marketecture.  Everyone in the storage industry is selling a box of hard disks.  "Value add" software is a cost accelerator.  Why not purpose-build storage to obtain exactly the right mix of capacity, performance and functionality that your data really needs?  Consider placing value add functions into the network as shared services, not as proprietary on-array functions.