This thread make me think of something else from the past. Using the little known STATS_STREAM option of the CREATE STATISICS statement, you can re-create production statistics in another database (perhaps a QA environment), and then experiment with estimated execution plans. The table structures can even be empty for this to work, so it can take relatively little time and resources to prepare.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;914288
http://www.sqlnotes.info/2012/03/05/statistics/
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho