it seems that rather than the site being slow, either the DNS resolution or the server's output/generation of the pages is the problem. so, when i click on a renderosity link it churns away for about 20 seconds then bam, loads in a split second.

IMO it is the biggest problem. its also the reason that renderotica, a while back (not sure how it is now i havent been there in over a year) was suffering. the site was so slow it was an exercise in frustration to do anything there so i just avoided it.

if theres anything that will kill a site its slowness. every other problem should take a backseat to this one.