[e2e] Are we doing sliding window in the Internet?

[Tim Dorcey]

> Any P2P software which opens multiple TCP sessions for simultaneous
> download essentially overrides the rough fairness of the cooperative
> congestion control.

I wonder how much BitTorrent performance is due to his effect?  Might it do
almost as well if a receiver opened up multiple TCP sessions to the best
single source?

I get the point that accessing multiple sources simultaneously deals with
asymmetry in upload/download speeds.  But, something makes me think this
washes out in the aggregate if enough torrents are running.  I am ignorant
on actual network technology though.  Is the asymetric upload/download speed
common with consumer broadband a function of the last mile link technology?
Or, something else?

Tim