Depends of how you understand "if you know the way how it works"...I do not have to know (every single detail) how internally one airplane works, but if I know all the possibilities of the airplane and how to use them efficiently, it is enough for me to make my flight efficient and comfortable. Like in a Formula 1 race, Michael Schumacher knows how to efficiently use and drive good car designed by good engineers, and he was 7 time world champion :-) Give one of those good engineers to drive this car, he won't even finish the race :-)
I am not saying that a ASM is perfect (CBO is not perfect also) and that can be used in every situation, but if used properly in right situation, can make a life of a DBA much easier. Kevin, from a database point of view, could you please explain what we can not do with the ASM?
Cheers, Goran -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l