Re: It would help if the author knew what he was talking about.
I think perhaps you should go back and re-read the article. Mr Nicholson makes some great points. You're right that transactions aren't the same as sensor data; I'd question the merit of moving from a relational model for all but the most specialist areas. Where's the payoff? Just what is being stored? If it was being dropped before (presumably because something was wrong with it?), is it really needed?
