Once the number of records grows, the difference is quite noticeable, try with 3 million records and I've got 0.017, 0.003 and 3.061. Now if it was me, I would still go for the changing of the alias and restoring it back, after all VFP is doing that in the background, doesn't it?
"The five senses obstruct or deform the apprehension of reality."
Jorge L. Borges?
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil in programming."
Donald Knuth, repeating C. A. R. Hoare
"To die for a religion is easier than to live it absolutely"
Jorge L. Borges