Hi Lurkah,

Unless I am completely missing the point of what you wish to do and about which you sense a decline in availability -
You can easily establish private network(s) with both BearShare and Gnucleus. From one to one on up to as many as you like.
It only takes a bit of discipline from all involved in the direct connections. First person to 'allow' others outside the private network blows it and all participants are then connected to the network at large.
The situation could be improved, but it is available do do now.

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