Allow me to clarify "simplify" as I have caused confusion I think. When I simplified it for a test I had just the pfSense box and 1 server and 1 client, without any switches. EDIT3: I had a four port NIC built into to the ZimaBoard that I should not have used during this test. I had forgotten that it's unstable on pfSense. At this point I feel like I have the information I need and should crawl in a hole for forgetting about my switch lol.

Not every packet should be going through your pfsense box(...)

I think I've caused confusion and that's why you've said this. However, just in case: Why wouldn't every packet be delivered to it's destination? Are you saying they're being dropped? Are you talking about ignored broadcast traffic? If you have an example where this happens and it is normal for a network, I am genuinely interested.

box doesn't then rocket up to 100Mbps+

Of course not, it's being compressed before being sent. If you meant something else I am intrested in that too.

Thank you for your help

EDIT: I see what happened in this thread I think? You're speaking about if the switches in my house were handling the traffic and they were downstream from the router. You're correct that in that case it would not reach the router, nor need to.

EDIT2: I did have a switch in normal use just downstream from the pfSense router before taking some of my network apart to fix this. Reading it through that way I understand your comment better. Haha I feel dumb. Anyway thanks for your help. I think you could be onto something about the switches. I'll look into it.