Hi Craig,
You are correct in stating that each database has extended itself beyond the SQL92 and SQL99 standard of offer extras. That why its so important to stick to the the SQL92 and SQL99 standards when writing application using a frontend language when portability is important. Then you can be sure the application will port, irregardless of what backend database the customer my have.
This can even be important when working for a single company that standardizes on a single backend server. This would make it easy for the large company to switch backend database servers, if price/performance warranted the change, and all the company application could be easily adopted to the new backend database.
LelandJ