The network aspect of VT is identical to SOD. Yesterday, I looked at GR; it's a convenient tool, but it doesn't add anything beyond convenience, meaning that a direct IP is necessary for GR to work. But still, the way it connects players is very convenient... if I manage to figure it out, I'll probably implement it as well...
I definitely plan to implement my own VPN, so I can stop using Hama.
I don't know about a direct IP – I, for example, have a dynamic IP, and I played through GR. And isn't GR better at maintaining the connection? I used GR when it was impossible to play through Hama....