MyISM is really only sutible for setting up a single user / single computer database. MySQL has been focusing on InnoDB based databases, since that is the database version that is transaction safe.

I'm getting the impression that the loud and popular "free" database, MySQL, is still several years behind practically everyone else. Including the other "free" database, PostGres. I don't think The Powers That Be will be at all interested in changing the database. :-/

MySQL is popular because it is fast and easy, but it is least SQL compliant of the popular databases. MySQL 5 seems to move it up a lot terms of SQL compliance and adds some key features, but I have not had a chance to play with it much. MySQL's popularity is really grounded in the fact that many low cost web hosting companies support nothing but MySQL.

Jay