If you download the source code from LimeWire.org, you can modify it, compile it, and presto! You can have an ad-free version of LW. I know that this is a lot more complex than I make it sound, but if you're into Java, you can do it.

Most bandwidth used by LW.com and LW.org does not come from software downloads. Cnet handles that, and so it seperate from this figure.

You know what I really dislike about 1.8? I used adware to kill all the spyware on my system. Now, LW 1.8 opens and promptly crashes while trying to access an non-existent spyware extension on my system. If you try to uninstall 1.8, I got an error message about missing files (I traced them back to either spyware or adware).

If you're uncomfortable with 1.8, use this version:

http://limewire.gnutelliums.com/1.7c/

Perhaps an open-source project will create an ad free version.