Just to clarify: you're trying to create virtual machines that run Apple OSX? If so then realize that Apple only OSX Server 10.5 or later is supported as a virtual machine and only if it runs on Apple hardware. (OSX desktop is NOT supported by Apple in a virtual machine. Apple's EULA is what limits you to OSX Server on Apple hardware.) Since ESX is not supported on Apple hardware yet, then even running OSX Server on ESX is not supported by VMWare either. The only supported OSX virtual machine is Leopard or Snow Leopard Server running in VMWare Fusion on Apple hardware.
Additionally, ESX 3.5 virtual machines do NOT see the physical hardware directly (for the most part.) Thus adding a physical ATA card does not mean your virtual machines will get ATA. The virtual machines already have an IDE controller, but this is used to present a CD-ROM drive to the virtual machine, not for virtual hard drives. IDE virtual hard drives are NOT supported in ESX(i)3.5. While there may be someone that can post how to make a ESX3.5 virtual machine with IDE virtual hard drives, but it will be a completely unsupported configuration.
