Then it uses a different broadcast method that also does not depend on higher level IP addresses. My point is that high level abstractions, like dedicated broa

Then it uses a different broadcast method that also does not depend on higher level IP addresses. My point is that high level abstractions, like dedicated broadcast IP address that magically alters the behavior of lower level components, complicate things. Say, there is SO_BROADCAST, but it does nothing for TCP (even though we can imagine how broadcast client-to-server connection initiation might work), and there seems to be disagreement whether it allows to use broadcast address, or instructs to use broadcasts with any address. But Berkley sockets are also from mid-'80s, and it is possible that previous alternatives required manual configuration of low level APIs on each individual supported network to use broadcasts, so that was a step forward.