[chx]

> in fact usenet was often the source of the binaries which then made their way to the torrent services

Nah, it was always topsites and I strongly suspect they still are.

[Nursie]

Yeah fair enough, they were/are the beating heart of the scene. I always assumed usenet was somehow 'closer' to the source than the public trackers, but :shrug:

[prox]

What is topsites?

[chx]

even twenty years after shutdown of the one I was ... hrm ... helping with ... I am reluctant to talk so please read https://www.wired.com/2005/01/topsite/ instead

[prox]

Thanks, this is going to be an interesting read!