I have mounted a 500GB share (Appleshare IP 6.3) using localtalk cabling on much older machines (e.g., 68030 PowerBooks) running Systems 7.1 - 7.5. Under localtalk and the standard AppleShare software that comes stock in System 7, a machine will list and work with the files on the 500GB disk. I have installed software archived on the large drive to localtalk-only machines. It is slow, I admit, but it is also all perfectly robust and a damn sight easier than making a massive set of floppies from an archive. All you do is go for a walk or a cup of coffee and when you come back the deed is done.

You need to have some sort of localtalk-ethertalk bridge running to do this (I use the Apple Internet Router for these purposes). Other than that small hitch, it couldn't be simpler.

So I like localtalk too. The ability to mount such large shares over that limited networking system amazes me every time I see it.