How can I know if socketIO will offer any benefit over long-polling?

I think websockets are better than long-polling, with polling you have unnecessary network throughput overhead primarily as your application scale. Check this two links.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.