@alexwilson
Try and download a magnet file from here and see what speed you get for it, then post the result as well:
http://www.magnetmix.com/video.shtml
The low speed could be connected to many reasons, such as your own internet speed, the speed of the file host, the time of the day, how many hosts of the exact same file. There is know simple answer to this question.
Post back with the result and we go from there.
@rocknrollmachine
An impressive expertise that you give with your statement. One wonders why you have signed up here, since you seem to understand the whole P2P issue including the clients like a professional
!!.....Never Mind though
!