I can recall a 20% or better speed difference transferring files on LAN depending on whether I initiated the connection from the Linux or the Windows box.

Back in my day, we had green-on-black text. If you were really lucky, you had AMBER on black. Now, those were the days.

And for a P2P protocol we used sneakernet. We had to take floppy disks and WALK to the host. Through 6 feet of snow. Uphill. Both ways!