Sync Lightroom between two (or more) computers. Why is it so complex?

I am a staunch fan of Lightroom (have 3.4) because of its versatility both for cataloguing and editing. One big minus however is the complexity of working in a networked/multicomputer environment.
Here is what I want: Just sync between a PC and a laptop, in such a way that what I do off-site on my laptop can be easily copied/synced to my PC and vice versa, including settings, collections etc..
My findings/experience thusfar with two options:
NETWORKED
I am aware that the catalogue files cannot/will not work on a network drive (I have Netgear NAS). Using the NAS as a central repository for all image files being addressed by Local catalogues (resp. on my PC and laptop) works but is slow. Could be slow because of a slow Wifi connection between the laptop and NAS, which is normally not the case (I have n-network router..). Because of the often large RAW files I process this is not the preferred route. Since the .lrcat files and lrpreview files won’t work on the NAS, they need to be synced between PC and laptop anyhow. Same for any LR settings that may change during processing.
GO BETWEEN HDD DRIVE
Since I avail of a nippy Diginote 2.5” HDD box filled with a 320 Gb SATA drive with both USB 2.0 and e-SATA I followed Scott Kelby’s advice to use it as a go-between.
I took the following steps:
1.       Copy over all image files, lrcat, lrpreview and Lightroom settings (set in LR preferences to be with catalogue in one folder) from my Laptop data drive Photo folder to the Diginote HDD
         Obviously (was it?) the copied lrcat file (still) pointed to the Laptop datadrive folder so I changed it to point to the Photofolder on the Diginote
2.       I created a new folder with new catalogue, etc. on my PC and imported the lrcat and all files from the Diginote into this new PC catalogue. All well but the LR settings (includes my web gallery settings) were not copied over! Had to do manually..
3.       Next I edited photos, created new collections, made new virtual copies and rated images on the Diginote.
4.       Thent imported the (updated) lrcat from the Diginote into the PC catalogue. All well, modification and virtual copies now included in the PC catalogue.
However no sign of the new collections even after copying over the LR settings!!! They are clearly not included in the settings.
So Ref 2 and 4, I am a bit a loss where the Collection settings are saved. Anyone with an answer?
5.       Since the Diginote in this setup is the “policeman” and I rather be safe than sorry I copied back/backed-up the Diginote folder to my laptop. Lo and behold! Guess what I see, the Local lrcat points to the local datadrive and all new collections etc are nicely shown. It seems a "simple" windows back up transfers the Collection data whereas a LR managed export/import action does not
Questions: What is good or bad in this procedure and why are the collection settings behaving so oddly? QQ where are they filed?
Think that ADOBE should come up with a no nonsense program option to sync between at least two computers or make things work in a network. I can’t be the only one with a similar setup.

Dear Sprengel,
Followed your advice. Works wonders! Thanks a million
Using Goodsync for sync/backup
Regards,
Met vriendelijke groet /Salutations/Salam Sejahtera/Tahiyati/Namaste/Mit freundlichen Grüßen/Schéi Gréiss/Cordiali saluti/Saludandolo cordialmente/Saludos/Cumprimentos/Atenciosamente/Maligayang Bati/Venlig Hilsen/Vänlig Hälsning/Ystävällisin terveisin/Ni Hao/Toate cele bune/S uvazhenijem/Dobry denj/Mooi Bly/Mei freonlike groetenis/Afablajn salutojn/Με φιλικούς χαιρετισµούς/Slán agus beannact/Üdvözlettel/Attayb Al Tahiyyat/Malugod na bumabati, С уважением, Mahalo, salam mesra, مع تحياتي

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