The docs for help/man page for --speed-time/--speed-limit indicate these options only apply to downloads. I just wanted to confirm this means strictly HTTP GET requests, and not retrievals resulting from a POST, or uploads using a PUT request?

These options should apply to any form of data transfer, up, or down, including PUT requests. Of course, assuming they don't, and won't anytime soon, the docs should make it clear the CLI options have no affect when supplied in this scenario.