Thanks for doing this work.

Comments:

1) Patches #1 and #2 look OK.

2) Patch #3 needs to be split up into three patches:
	a) rename variables (s/sector/block/),
	b) reorganize read/write translation
	c) add CHS support

    Otherwise, patch #3 (content-wise) is OK.

3) In Promise's GPL'd driver for their SATA (w/ PATA) cards, they 
unconditionally execute the INITIALIZE DEVICE PARAMETERS command.  I 
wonder if we should do the same.

4) I will apply patches #1 and #2 after I receive feedback on my 
comments in item #3.  I have not applied them yet, even though they are 
acceptable.