(a bit of port forwarding or VPN) + (VNC or RDP) ? What you get from TeamViewer/LogMeIn/etc. is the zeroconf aspect of the experience, which in turn is because

(a bit of port forwarding or VPN) + (VNC or RDP) ? What you get from TeamViewer/LogMeIn/etc. is the zeroconf aspect of the experience, which in turn is because they provide of a central rendezvous/discovery point. If you know where your peers are, you don't really need an assisted remote management service.