What are people using for external raid arrays? What is the current trend?

What are people using for external raid arrays? What is the current trend? Are people still using SCSI?
My manager and I are doing research. When we tried to do Dell's selection criteria to pick the proper external raid array it said that we should use a SAN which cost about $15,000+. My manager was thinking that the company would only spend about $8,000. We also don't need SAN.
I know I probably have not provided enough information but I am not sure what is needed. My manager did remark he wanted 15 drives.