Apple Remote Desktop questions

Hi, I am thinking about buying Apple Remote Desktop for the likes-installing-admin-software geek in me.

But the Apple Web site about ARD leaves a few questions unanswered. Perhaps someone here has run into the answers and can help me out?

1. How does the 10-systems limit work? Does it refer to 10 systems concurrently or 10 systems in total (i.e. does ARD keep track of what machines one has registered with it)? Can I use ARD to administer up to ten machines at home and up to 10 ten machines elsewhere (my parents', friends') or is the 10-systems limit a total limit? If so, how is that enforced and kept track of?

2. How does ARD interact with Fast User Switching? Can I connect to a background session (works with VNC for some reason) or only to the foreground session? What happens when I connect as myself to a machine currently used by somebody else?

3. Is ARD faster than VNC? Is it more comparable to Microsoft Remote Desktop or VNC speed-wise?

4. Can ARD change a remote system's settings usually found in System Preferences without logging on and taking over a screen?


Regards,

Andrew.