Fret not, its got a bigger HD that you can buy separate (if you'll ever need it) and an extra output for HDMI (that makes no difference).
As for the quiterness, it happens, my friends 360 has a different DVD drive thats quieter than mine, this stuff happens all the time, as new materials come on the market they get used, everythings still compatible etc, just the elite is using a refined manufacturing process etc.