SQL Server can run perfectly fine if it's not an administrator on the system. There are limitations, of course. In reality,not being an administrator on the box is more limiting to SQL Server Agent (the docs say it requires this level of permissions to be able to restart SQL Server or itself should the services be stopped).

K. Brian Kelley

http://www.truthsolutions.com/

Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring

http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1