That wasn't the point. Is the network really "slower by orders of magnitude" than disk? Why is using the network such a silly idea, considering network speeds are more than keeping up. Was the reference just referring to protocols. I was hoping for some accuracy: something to back up the statement.
30ms latency is basically the best-case scenario you can expect for consumer internet (with a nearby datacenter and all that.) 10ms latency is about the worst-case latency for a rotational disk. And almost no consumer internet outside of Japan or South Korea is going to get more than 2 MB/s of real bandwidth, compared to 100 MB/s of real bandwidth from rotational hard drives.
Throw wireless or uploading into the mix (who's going to use a Chromebook over ethernet?) and it's even worse.
You can feel good about gaining important knowledge. (Advanced exercise: extrapolate from the implications of not having known one piece of fundamental knowledge, then take action.)
