>I heard recently (I haven't checked it out myself) that SQL Server 2000 has a >new data type that's actually a function...in other words, you can write code(I'm guessing it's similar to SQL/VB syntax).

New to SQL 2000 is the User Defined Function. What goes inside the function is any Transact SQL statement, then returns a value or a table. It also accepts parameters. It is touted as a way to easily do a parameterized view.

SQL server has always had stored procedures. Sometimes, the DB designer would prevent all access to the underlying tables and abstract everything through stored procedures and views. If they decide to change a field name, then none of the middle tier code would break.

I think there is definitely a need to keep a middle tier outside of SQL server. You can't just think of 3 tiers. Each tier may be subdivided into multiple tiers.

Basically, it doesn't replace the middle tier, it just provides a level of abstraction.