To answer your questions, any USB external drive will work on an Antipodes server.
The Antipodes drive is an industrial drive, designed for lots of use, also it is M-Disc quality designed to read pits 1/10th the size of a CD pit, so it is very accurate, this indeed can make for a more accurate rip, combined with the software.
The speed is dictated by the software and the quality of the disc being read.
If you have a very nice disc, the ripping process can take 10-20 mins as it is re-read in Paraniod mode, if the disc has errors it will reduce speed and re-read until an accurate rip is obtained, this is for the Antipodes ripper or any other manufacturers ripper.