[dopp0]

why 443? are you assuming ssl here? serious question, I'm not sure. But if it is, wouldn't it be hard to disregard the weight of SSL in the metric?

[semiquaver]

The code closes the connection immediately after opening a plain TCP socket, so no SSL work is done. Presumably 443 is just a convenient port to use.

[nullindividual]

tcp/443 is likely an open port on the target service (Dynamodb based on the domain name). TLS is not involved.

ICMP ECHO would be a bad choice as it is deprioritized by routers[0].

[0] https://archive.nanog.org/sites/default/files/traceroute-201...

[quie]

The script connects to well known 'dynamodb.' + region_name + '.amazonaws.com' server that expects HTTPS