Marcus's idea about the memory card gave me an idea....
What is the VMU based on? Is i a Compact Flash or Smart media card? If so
(or even if not) what about wrting the kernel to that? The dreamcast check
it as it boots doesn't it? Then you could minimise what you have to put on a
CDR.
For example:
Put a boot CD in, it tell the DC to look at the VMU, the kernel boots....
Using some clever IP stuff, it automagically loads / from NFS...
Perhaps a little hopefull... But then again, I only got my DC yesterday :)

D Miller