Yep, thats the way it is, or at least the way it is in theory, but with modern technology it is VERY, and i do mean *very* rare to have a propogation delay long enough to affect the posting order - ive only once in the last 2 years come across posts with replies to unknown questions/views. If you want to stick to old conventions assuming asynchronicity then thats fine, and as for servers that drop the previous posts - use a better one? Maybe thats because i've always been on a high quality ISP with its own newsservers. At work I'm posting from the dreaded google as my home ISP server cant be accessed from anything other than my home line, i have the odd problem here but its hardly something to get worried about - so i miss a post or one makes no sense due to me not seeing the first bit? Its hardly something to cry about, i go back to the real world and enjoy a coffee, do some work and get on with things that really matter.
j