The HomePortal 1500 combines a DSL modem, router, hub, firewall, and Web console to act as the server for your home network. Without it, you'd have to purchase each of these items separately. Also, 2Wire's HomePortal provides advanced features that an ordinary PC configured as a gateway cannot provide. Some operating systems can be unstable and crash. Such a crash could shut down your home network completely.
Security is another major problem.
Because hackers could gain access to your network over the DSL service to your home, anything accessible over the network is at risk. A PC acting as a residential gateway can't be managed remotely by the Internet service provider. Every time there's an upgrade to your security or Internet sharing software, you'd have to load it to each device connected through an adapter to the network. The most current standard published is the HomePNA 2.0 specification, allowing up to 10 Megabits per second. Read more on the release of HomePNA 2.0 here .