Doesn't really matter how fast your modem is, if the server is slow, then you're sunk, right? Most I can manage is 1KBps, 3 if I'm lucky. That's the price you pay for a free service, but I think it's cos more people have come on recently, I used to get 7KBps downloads (oh I was just cruising then, wasn't I).
Well, maybe I'm spoilt by the uni connection (>30KBps!), but I probably won't have the space/time/hardware/software/speed to run it. I'm not kidding, it's a P166. How long did it take to DL, anyway? Apparently connection for me is cut off at a max of 4 hours, plus DLs from BL has usually been at a lovely 300bps. Slower than a snail on Valium...
As for getting my own PC... someday I'll do it. It's just so hard deciding what to get, especially when everything becomes obsolete so quickly. What's the fastest publicly available processors these days, anyway?
THe idea is to get a comnputer that meets your needs now, and then upgrade as needed. As they say the average lifespan for a computer is 3 years, and the one I'm using is going on to 5 years.