17.4k nodes but only 41k channels means ~2.4 channels per node on average. That's not a network — it's a hub-and-spoke topology with 80% of capacity concentrated in fewer than 500 nodes.

The real metric to watch isn't total capacity (4886 BTC sounds impressive until you realize 60% is dormant routing capital). It's active channel churn rate — how many channels are being opened vs closed per week. That tells you if the network is actually growing or just being rebalanced by the same 10 LSPs.