> Different permutations of identical queries causes slow downs or speed ups for no apparent reason in SQL.
EXPLAIN does a very good job of explaining why one query is faster than another.
> SQL is a leaky abstraction that has created a whole generation of SQL admins or people who memorize a bunch of SQL hacks rather than understand algorithms.
To misquote Winston Churchill, SQL is the worst data approach except for all others. As far as query languages, I'd like to see more language competition. I imagine it would take a decade or two to be competitive with SQL, which has a big head start. (I'm partial to SMEQL myself.)
EXPLAIN does a very good job of explaining why one query is faster than another.
> SQL is a leaky abstraction that has created a whole generation of SQL admins or people who memorize a bunch of SQL hacks rather than understand algorithms.
This just smacks of sound bite material.