> And for the majority of local networks there's a fundamental asymmetry between the local and external network. The majority of nodes on local networks only ever need to connect _out_ to the external network, they don't need incoming connections.

This is kind of like the railway administrators who say "there's no reason to have the train stop in TinyTown, there are no passengers waiting for it there".

If I could receive incoming connections, I could host my own Internet services (such as my own web site) AT HOME, and not be at the mercy of corporations to allow me to offer my information and/or services.