In regards to the perception of unfairness, most of that should be a non-issue as of Q2 2014.

http://www.utpplan.com/DOC/Q2%20US%20Consolidated%20Tape%20D...

http://www.utpplan.com/DOC/Q1%202014%20U.S.%20Consolidated%2...

Tape C average SIP latency from Q1 2014 to Q2 2014 went from ~1ms to 40-50 microseconds. That's about 20x faster. 40-50 microsecond average is about the technological limit for what these systems can do unless one resorts to FPGAs. Even then, the improvements to be gained is to take a 40-50 microsecond system and make it into a 5-10 microsecond system.

The best network switches today with cut-through propagation have port to port latencies of around 200ns. These things are pretty much approaching the speed of light.