>>> The point is that there is no way for a compiler to decide.
>>
>> ....which is why you have the hints... ;-)
> 
> Or iterative optimizations, like big SQL servers do.

Mmm... big SQL servers do this because which method is faster *strongly* 
depends on the exact data being queried. It's just not possible to make 
reasonable decisions at design-time, it must be at run-time.

I'm not sure all programs face quite such colossal challenges as an SQL 
system... ;-)

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