Is optical mostly a waste of time versus Ethernet?

That goes against the grain of humanity. Utopia is what it is you describe and that simply is taboo

For whatever reason, evil challenges efforts to explain things so they are understood. Genius is the ability to explain things so they can be understood and successfully dispel interfering demons. Always good that someone explaining something truly understands the subject as well as possessing the ability to clearly communicate. To have both is a strong indicator that the Angels of Genius are involved.

Router connects to server via AQ Vodka ethernet cable, server out connects to first in line FMC via AQ Vodka ethernet cable.

@fredrik222 Obvious listening not your cup of tea, how you getting along over at audiophilestyle forum?

So why fiber at all? Copper Ethernet cabling has limited range, 100ft is a safe bet, but depends on speed and cable standard. 
 

but fiber for super short runs like 5ft is crazy waste of money.

100% agree. And I work in the IT Industry. I have all standard power supplies in my rig except for my Power Amplifier (1500VA Toroidal/55,000uF of filtering). From the house Demark to my  DSL Modem/Router, maybe a 50ft. of RG59 Coax followed by another 40ft. of cheap, simple Amazon Basic shielded RJ-45 going to a cheap Netgear "Switch/Router" and it's Wal-Wart. I run 10AWG stranded AC wire inside Armoured Conduit from the Breaker Panel to the Stereo Rig. I have no/hash/hum/grunge noise in my system even when I put my ear to the Tweeter/Midrange of my Cornwall IV's.

So am I one of the "few" of lucky ones ? From the posts on this forum, I must be. 

Not having to waste my money on Ethernet Regen's, Electrical to Optical adapters, SFP modules, overpriced RJ45 switches/routers, and crazy analog power supplies in my computer chain gives me more money to spend on SACD's, legal digital downloads, and CD's. My Streamer is a Bluesound Node 2i and it's stock Power Supply as is my P.o.S. Apple M1 Mac Mini (bought it only because I've gone through 2 Win10 based PC's).

Hater's may go ahead and Hate...😂.

@yyzsantabarbara lol, can’t you humor us and explain how a compressed, and in most cases digitally signed or encrypted signal is broadcasted and lost packets are not retransmitted. Can’t wait for the laughs!

@sns and you, you think that your optical cable and FMC somehow can modify the payload, which is where the music resides during transmission. Again, this fmc and optical cable somehow figured out how to break encryption, flac decoding and pcm in real-time and then modifies it to sound better. I have a few bridges for you, just send me all the money you and your children will ever make up front.

I listen plenty, don’t worry about me.

@emergingsoul  no, no, and definitely no. Just don’t.