Just double checking... You've never used and will never use CONNECT BY until it becomes part of the ISO Standard. And you never used DATEDIFF until it became part of the standard. And you've never used GETDATE() because it's not part of the standard.
Actually, no. I leave this to the code to handle.
The DBAs in all the companies I work for, demand us to follow all ISO standards without deviation.
Moreover, the applications I have written, both GUI and Web, are 100% portable to many of the top databases available including: MS SQL, MySQL, DB2, Oracle, and others (tested and implemented).
I will not debate the issue as I am not saying I am right nor am I saying I am wrong - it is just one way of solving an issue. The article and others like it are of course another way. In IT, there are many ways to solve a given issue, some better than others.
With this said, if performance using a non-ISO standard was significantly improved, the DBAs and other Stake Holders would have to evaluate their thinking and perhaps make an exception, however, as of now, performance is virtually instant and there are no areas to improve, so we will remain with the ISO standards.
Why have standards if they are not to be followed and adhered? Sure, they may become outdated. No one is saying they are perfect and even if they were, in six months there will likely be something else better, different, or faster, requiring the standards to be revisited, invoking a new standard.
Ahhh - I love IT - it is ever changing and evolving.
Take care all.