Hi.
"next generation file based databases" ? Maybe, but not from Microsoft.

I'm not qualified to say something about using file based databases for something like UT is, but here are a lot who certainly know a lot about advantages/disadvantages.
If tables are opened by individual threads using the same "shared mode" as in regular LAN applications, so, bad thing can happen, maybe not so often.
I remember about troubles with data update, server threads that don't see data updated by other threads, the need for FLUSH after every data update, the need for disabled write caching at server.

IMO, the expansion of free database servers like Postgres, Firebird, MySQL is a thing that big companies like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, are afraid of.

>So, will Web Services eventually make database servers obsolete? If next generation file based databases are allowed to develop and thrive in the market place under the dominating eyes of the database market leaders who make a pretty penny with their databases servers, I think the answer is clearly "yes."