Network latency in most situations is not 500ms. The latency from New York California is under 70ms, and if you add in some transmission time you're still under 200ms. And that's ignoring that an NYC request will probably go only to VA (sub-15ms).

Even over LTE you're looking at under 120ms coast to coast.

You have to take any of those numbers and multiply them by two, since you have to go there and then back again.