HSTS Nodes entitled with AoC Essential will accept transfers using HTTPGW.
What AoC Essential does not include is:
- integration of HTTP-based transfer in web UI
- license to use HTTPGW server software
On the other side, if you own already an Aspera HTTPGW, or have access to a third party HTTPGW server, you can indeed transfer to HSTS nodes of AoC essential using this this GW (but not using the AoC web ui).
I.e. transfer can be started by other means, such as third party web ui with httpgw SDK integration.
Even, using aspera-cli, you can transfer using that GW and still using AoC apps (Files, Packages).