Even USB 1.1 is more than enough bandwidth and latency for a single MIDI device, but yeah, the PCI card is optimal because you'd also be getting [variably good] audio inputs. I think the Audiophile 2496 has midi ports on it, but I can't think of anything else under $100 that does. There are also super-fancy USB2/Firewire I/O boxes that have midi on them, like the RME Multiface II.
p.s. It is now a historically-based dating game. Sort of. You wouldn't know the two other people working on it with me (`・ω・´)