Thanks a lot. I edited my post, but i don't think the issue is as clear cut as just the server being slow due an overcrowded network like i thought at first. I just downloaded several gigs from it in under 15 minutes. Im just not seeing those speeds in my seeds. Maybe i have to pick better torrents to seed.

that was exactly the problem. I found a more desired torrent and now my ratio is safe 8-)

yea, once i figured out the freeleech thing, i was off to the races. my ratio has nearly 10x'd what it was since I made this post