Not if two of the three links are daily or twice daily or four times a day and the extra link is once a week. Do the math.Even 2 is 3 links in web vs 2.
Average of 18 worlds out of what?And, given a median range between significant worlds of 3Pc, a J5-J6 web is going to have an average of 18 worlds.
I'd rather have a look at an actual example. Unfortunately, the canonical X-boat network is excessively inefficient. Many of the worlds in the network that is within four parsecs of each other but nevertheless not connected, such as Strouden to Carey and Carey to Mora OUGHT to be connected in the first place, so it's difficult to find good examples.At 4 Pc distance, it still is running about 10-12 worlds. DO THE MATH.
So you say, but I don't see it.It gets real ugly really quick.
What does "4 hops instead of 2" mean?A hub and spoke does mean the occasional world makes 4 hops instead of 2... but it's the most cost effective distribution for governance, and for dissemination of central information, provided the arms of the primary level run to major points of importance, and then the spur hubs come off of those.
Hans