>My point is not this specfic case that you requested.
>I think we are viewing the matter from a different height.
>I tend to see the bigger picture.
>For this specific case, dynamic SQL works.
>However, if I want to do more complicated operation, to me it's nice to have another option to be able to just add a function within a script.
>
>Maybe you have clients who use older system. I do not have such a constraint.
>I want a new SQL Server to have features. Those who want to stick their method, they are welcome to do so.
>
>This reminds me of nice old language FoxPro. It did not have try catch error handling until version 7 or 8.
>There were folks who refused to use the newer error handling mechanism although it is obviously more robust.
>
>I like everything moving forward and never stay at where you are.
>Thanks for your idea.

:)
Believe me I love to work with newest possible versions.
Lucky you that you don't have clients with older versions.
May I ask a question - Could you code whole your application so it uses only SQL Server 2008 features and make it SQL Server 2005 or 2000 incompatible?
Yeah, T-SQL can be and have to be expanded.