Ok, results...
Since I last posted which was not long ago at all, my internet speed is now back in full swing with WebShield and P2PShield disabled. AND the Windows Defender service stopped and disabled on Win 7 SP1. I don't P2P, and disabling the webshield is something I read a handful of times since I started troubleshooting the issue. And yes, there was a BIG difference in speed since my last post. Main browser is latest Chrome.