Lets assume we have 2 bitcoin nodes, A and B. A is already up, and B is now coming up. B lists A as a peer node and attempts to establish a connection. A accepts, a handshake is completed and they confirm they are in sync. Is the connection then terminated until there is a need to communicate with each-other again (ie a new transaction is broadcast)? Or is the connection persisted for the life time of the application?
If it is persisted, what prevents a well known public node from being swarmed with peer requests?