re: NAS/server build (New question in ETA 2)

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Cox blocks port 21 (FTP's default port) but you can just have your router forward some random port to the IP address of the NAS at port 21, and you're good.

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Most ISPs block common web ports on the claim that it's for security, but also the fact that they want you to shell out more $$$ for a "business account". That said, your 21, 25, 80, 443, etc tend to be all blocked. I've basically done that same thing before, just use a different IP for those ports. You can either config the server/app to listen on the different port, or translate the port from some random port externally to the correct one internally. Either way works.

As for the original question, I'd also have to second the Synology suggestion. I got one about a year ago and I love the thing. You can go on their website to see all the different stuff you can do with it, but I've got mine set up with simple file hosting, plex server for media streaming along with the Synology photo, video, audo station that can stream those files over the internet to either a web browser or an app on your phone/tablet. I've also got it running DNS in my home so my different PCs etc can be accessed using a DNS name instead of an IP. I honestly don't know why more routers don't have that feature built in but I digress... You can set Synology as a VPN server, DHCP, RADIUS, LDAP. You can set it up as a "Time Machine" backup station if you have Mac stuff (no exeperience there). You can sync two of them together, host webpages, download torrents. The featureset is honestly really impresive, the UI is easy to use and they release software updates about 3 times a month which is really awesome. For instance they had heartbleed patched within a week after the exploit was released. That stems mainly from the fact that they have a lot of business clients and you get the same software that runs on their business class devices on all their units including the 2 and 4 bay ones.

QNAS is fairly similar, but I have no real experience with them. If you want something with more power and potentially more flexibility you would probably want to build your own machine and do something like FreeNAS or potentially just put Ubuntu (server or desktop) on it. I will say the little NAS devices are also pretty good because they are tiny, use little power, and generate little noise. I have mine on a bookshelf.