[foodstances]

That is mostly solved with ChanServ and NickServ services. Channels can't be taken over with DDoSes because ChanServ protects them and attackers can't get your real IP because NickServ provides host masking.

[k__]

Wasn't that already a thing in 2001?

I was on euIRC and basically "grew up" with those services.

[sedatk]

Yes, they were a thing even in the 90's.

[hericium]

It's such a shame IRCnet refused to adopt services.