Jamie, it is local file storage, though.

All the arguments applied against dbfs apply equally against the quickbooks file- apart from the relatively simple security used by Quickbooks that can be cracked easily.

My question is: if "everybody knows" local file storage is inadequate for crucial business data, how come millions of small businesses keep using it regardless? Why haven't they moved to a more "robust" solution? IMHO that's a fairly important consideration before we go excitedly down the road towards industry standards and principles that may make sense to us, but that millions of potential customers seem content to ignore. Of course some developers have no interest in that sort of customer, but there is plenty of other attention focusing on the huge opportunity they represent.