I use hfsutils on my Ubuntu Linux machines to format and copy things onto 1.44MB HFS disks. It even decodes .bin and .hqx files as it copies them.

You can network your machines together very easily with a Localtalk network - this links the machines by their serial ports. With the right software, you can then share a folder on one machine, then mount it using the Chooser on the other. I've got a Powerbook 5300 I use with Apple's Localtalk Bridge software and a PCMCIA wireless card - I can then mount Appletalk shares on my Linux box from any of my classic Macs!