[SudoAlex]

There's still some value.

I'd love to be able to connect to a QuakeNet IRC server which is SSL/TLS protected to help guard against anyone sniffing on the local network, or along the route to the specific IRC server.

Yes, there are problems to solve. Clients need to validate the servers certificate properly. Users need to understand that whatever they send may still be logged by the network, other users on the channel, etc.

Saying that IRC doesn't need SSL is like saying that other IM applications such as Skype don't need it either. Anything which helps prevent eavesdropping should be done.