Calculates and returns the current threshold value for the buffer's split
based on the average number of bytes transferred per transfer opportunity
and the hop counts of the messages in the buffer.
Returns true if a setting with defined name (in the current namespace
or secondary namespace if such is set) exists and has some value
(not just white space)
Creates (and dynamically loads the class of) an object that
intializes itself using the settings in this Settings object
(given as the only parameter to the constructor).