Grr, this is one of the things that really ticks me off when people complain about it. YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SEE IN THE DARK, OK? Sheesh. I consider high gl_modulate values to be a cheat -- a "wallhack" for shadows, if you will. You're able to see things you shouldn't. It also makes the maps look really ugly, turning all my hard work into <fill in the blank>. So, you should start finding ways to use shadows to your strategical advantage. I'm trying to turn this game into something more than hopping around and shooting. Also, sandtrap & clones should be taken out of rotation.</rant>
As for the packet cap -- I'm trying to work out a way to make the game smooth without sending insane numbers of packets out to the server. It's still under construction, so it's kind of choppy.