![](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/daa8915e-8704-4bfe-921a-6fd6a1f89c5a.png)
![](https://programming.dev/pictrs/image/8140dda6-9512-4297-ac17-d303638c90a6.png)
I don’t think you need an optimal spanning tree. Proxying messages is basically just how Usenet works. You peer with a small number of other servers each party forwards messages in groups the other party is interested in.
As someone who used to run a Usenet server (20 years ago), I don’t think it’s a better system. The extra hops add a lot of questions related to moderation, filtering, censorship, trust, responsibility for forwarded content, and so on.
Lightning has two data lanes and this cable looks like it’s missing one of them. IIRC devices can use either lane depending on orientation of the plug so that would explain why data transfer was working for you. Does it stop working if you rotate the plug?