The "limit" is to connect to 8 *OUTBOUND* peers, not 8 nodes. Has nothing to do with the integrity of the network and everything to do with that fact that home up-links tend to be slower than down-links. Furthermore, how hard is it for a miner with fast up-link to change one variable in code and re-compile? Or even better make it a configurable option? Number of connected peers is nothing to do with protocol. Fail #2.