Err I just noticed this......
 

a couple of my connecttions are status "helper". Why?

hm ... help them out?!?
 

this is what the manual says on helpers:

"Helper - Your maximum connections were reached so you are giving them a few IPs to help them out"

so i would say it's a temporary connection which your gnotella didn't refuse immediately but instead you give the other side some addresses from your ip-pool to help them find a free peer and disconnects afterwards ...

hope this helps,