SQL pretzels created while experimenting with hallucinogens?

In an interview for the NoCOUG Journal (http://www.nocoug.org/Journal/NoCOUG_Journal_200608.pdf#page=4), Steven Feuerstein was asked: “SQL is a set-oriented non-procedural language; i.e., it works on sets and does not specify access paths. PL/SQL on the other hand is a record-oriented procedural language, as is very clear from the name. What is the place of a record-oriented procedural language in the relational world?”

Steven replied: “Its place is proven: SQL is not a complete language. Some people can perform seeming miracles with straight SQL, but the statements can end up looking like pretzels created by someone who is experimenting with hallucinogens. We need more than SQL to build our applications, whether it is the implementation of business rules or application logic. PL/SQL remains the fastest and easiest way to access and manipulate data in an Oracle RDBMS, and I am certain it is going to stay that way for decades.”

To prove Steven correct, NoCOUG has held four international SQL challenges.(read more)