Why can't people just swap directly to one another on LN? Why is a lightning node necessary?
Because opening and closing LN channels requires on-chain transactions, and because you can't possibly open channels with every single LN node on the network. This is why payment routings (and liquidity) are fundamental on the LN. All you need is to open
one channel with enough local balance on it to be able to send to any other peer on the network, even if you don't have a direct connection with them, the payment will be routed through one or several LN nodes to reach its destination.
Stakenet's masternodes, which will be LN full nodes, will play this role (ensuring payment routing and providing liquidity).
These guys know a lot about the business. They will turn the blockchain industry upside down. Since all people will be able to start using bitcoin even more. I think the Lightning Network will kill the altcoin market. But it's not scary because we will be able to use bitcoin with lightning-fast transactions.
On the contrary, Lightning Network is an opportunity for Altcoins, because it simplifies atomic swaps (Lightning Swaps = atomic swaps over the Lightning Network).
Stakenet's aim is to provide a cross-chain architecture for cryptocurrencies, where users can easily operate with any blockchain simply by using Stakenets native coin XSN, as the blockchains are connected to each other through the Lightning Network and other cross-chain technologies.
Stakenet will propose a decentralized exchange (XSN Dex), built on these cross-chain technologies, and run by its Masternodes.