As I discovered while looking for targets of opportunity, the term of art is apparently "online video provider", or OVP (not "VPN" as I'd first written, thinking "video provider network".

"Tips for Choosing an Online Video Platform (OVP)" http://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Ar...

Yes, there's collateral damage. I'll take it. If needs be, I'll hop into /etc/hosts and unblock for a moment.

Make yourself a script file called 'RenHosts.bat'[1] and place it somewhere convenient, I personally have mine pinned to the start menu. This allows you to "easily" turn your modified HOSTS file on/off.

You'll need to right click and run the script as Administrator since it is accessing your System32 folder.

[1]http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hostsfaq.htm#Rename

Linux here.

I've got a set of scripts for updating and toggling hosts files.

If you have a mac, I highly recommend gas mask for switching hosts files.

What does it bring to the table over "mv"?

I'm not always in a terminal (IKR!?), so clicking the gas mask icon and setting it to the hosts file I want is only two clicks.

I personally find it very convenient.