Questions Regarding Etiquette and Operation from a New User

I've heard about soulseek as an alternative to downloading off torrent sites, but I've never used it and have some questions before I fully or partially switch over.

First, do I need a VPN? I live in a(n American) city and don't control my own internet, my landlord buys it and controls the setup, I'd rather they didn't get sent any angry letters.

Second, do I need to leave soulseek open at all times? I know it's considered rude to download files without sharing any, but I only have a laptop and can't leave it on all the time. Would it be a problem that my files wouldn't always be available for download?

Thank you!