I see so many 'blazing fast' HTTP servers, in every language imaginable. Does anyone write a slow HTTP server any more?

The real challenge is in writing a useful, useable server which still stays fast under load. In contrast, you have to be writing terrible coding horrors for your home-grown static file web server NOT to be wire-speed :)

(No offence to the writers of this particular server, I haven't looked at the code)