>Do you know how SQL Server gets away with it (just wondering)? Is it because of SQL Server stores data in "pages" so that a delete of record 90 requires only a reshuffling of the data page associated with record 90?
In simple terms, yes.
>Or is it because SQL Server writes to disk in a different way than VFP (SQL Server bypasses aspects of the OS, doesn't it?)?
SQL Server uses underling OS for its I/O but it's irrelevant to the issue at hand.
