> Also not mentioned is the general increase in server load by having to encrypt/decrypt all traffic.
Because it's fairly negligible, especially with OpenSSL able to take advantage of AES-NI and equivalents. Most of the hit you see is setting up a connection. You can move SSL off your app stack and onto load balancers, too, and it's wise to do so.
That isn't what virtual host means, particularly not here. Your "they mean ___" is exactly what virtual host means. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_hosting
> Also not mentioned is the general increase in server load by having to encrypt/decrypt all traffic.
Because it's fairly negligible, especially with OpenSSL able to take advantage of AES-NI and equivalents. Most of the hit you see is setting up a connection. You can move SSL off your app stack and onto load balancers, too, and it's wise to do so.