WISPs use a lot of infra mesh tech and they're also really great for low-cost network deployments in rural areas too since you don't need to dig long trenches. Just point a couple of high-gain yagis at each other every 30km or so and you're good.
The main problem with MANets is 1. TCP is incompatible with variably high latency and partial connectivity and 2. there's no IP routing algorithm that handles variable topologies well. so you end up burning the majority of the already limited wireless bandwidth on tracking routing tree changes and not on data transmission. Density is only really an issue because of problem 1. ICNs handle the latency issue more gracefully, but without a solid solution for 2 it doesn't matter lol.
The other issue of course is that mesh networks only work in very densely-populated areas.
I'm in full agreement on your points about organizing being the real task, not the tech side.
WISPs use a lot of infra mesh tech and they're also really great for low-cost network deployments in rural areas too since you don't need to dig long trenches. Just point a couple of high-gain yagis at each other every 30km or so and you're good.
The main problem with MANets is 1. TCP is incompatible with variably high latency and partial connectivity and 2. there's no IP routing algorithm that handles variable topologies well. so you end up burning the majority of the already limited wireless bandwidth on tracking routing tree changes and not on data transmission. Density is only really an issue because of problem 1. ICNs handle the latency issue more gracefully, but without a solid solution for 2 it doesn't matter lol.