so it's OK to run W2K (or 9x or NT) but not XP?
even though XP will solve your dilemma (although the cost of legally obtaining the OS may be more than the cost of another sound card)

This is why Windows rules
(beyond the monopoly issue)
because they have the time, money and people to serve the consumer

As Linus Torvalds repeats over and over in his book Just for Fun, life is about entertainment (assuming the basics are taken care of)
This is where MS excels

XP might be one of the ultimate gaming platforms but if you have to pay a lot for it (or get a new machine to run it effectively) maybe another card is in order