Nigel,

N> I wrote a stored procedure in each database that counted
N> from 1 to 1 million, and inside that loop, increment, then decrement another
N> variable by one.

<SNIP>

N> The decision was very clear from that point on...

and it was to buy a calculator instead of using a DBMS, wasn't it? :-P

sorry, couldn't help myself... Got your point, anyway.
Ciao
--
Nando Dessena
http://www.flamerobin.org