On NS2 performance
Hugh has written a great article on the current state of performance in NS2. It's a good layman's guide, and explains where we are, how we got here, and where we're going.
Performance - Where is it now, and where is it heading?
You may just learn a bit about programming along the way! It's always possible we won't hit our goals, but you'll surely understand what the "official" stance is on the game and what we're shooting for.
Keep in mind this is from Hugh and Dushan, and doesn't represent the ultra-official Word of Max.