Was hoping for a lot more in this article, I think this subject touches on one of the main reasons we use SQLServer ie to just get data into Excel like user interfaces - with flexible reporting functions.

As you mature this idea ( i.e. MS Office tools needing database/stored proc access, which BTW has been ongoing for probably 10years+) you eventually starting talking about Analysis Services/Sharepoint & Live Services and hence I think stored procs are not the way forward because much *bespoke* coding [function of client AND server side] is what it eventually results in...

[ In fact may I be so contentious as to say that SQLServer DBA jobs only exist today to facilitate things like Excel data sourcing ]

...or perhaps you folk think that the SSAS technology is still immature and want to resort to these outdated modes of thinking?

Not having a dig at anyone just want to encourage the move forward rather than backward.