mm... LPSs are different. LSPs have VERY limited access to transaction data. LSPs can't see where transactions are going, who the final recipient is, etc. Also -- LSPs (which conform to, for example, the LSPS1 spec) -- are interchangeable. You can use multiple LSPs, or switch between them, at will. Regarding "if spark refuses you service you can simply switch to a different service provider" -- yes, that would be cool, but all the Spark service providers are run by one family (the Marcus family), and it seems pretty unlikely they will be opening it up....