>I could live without macro substitution.

Well, I *could* live without vfp, too :) But seriously, I cannot live without macro until there's a suitable replacement. I have literally many dozens of SQLs full of multiple macros in every app for highly customized user queries. Probably any other usage of macros I can live without (as long as Names are still allowed), but not that.

You can see the difference in Powerbuilder/Sybase apps here. There is no user flexibility at all in the SQLs. They have a few fixed result sets, that's it. Very, very limited.