So don't get me wrong: XML support is a useful addition to the SQL Server toolkit - even in OLTP applications. As usual it's a case of using the right tool for the job.

My main objection to this article is the claim that the equivalent XML structure is either smaller or faster than the 'traditional' equivalent. Unless we deliberately do something dumb, the traditional approach will smaller, and faster -I can't even think of an 'edge' case where this isn't true (provided dumbness is avoided).

XML has definite advantages, including for semi-structured data and communicating with external components like web services...it's just not a panacea, especially when it comes to storage efficiency or outright speed.

The article does include some great examples of query syntax with XML though!

Paul