[funcDropShadow]

In the case of SQL/NoSQL I think it is the other way around. In order to use a NoSQL database to its strength, you have to know all access path up front [1]. Because you are designing your table structure with all the queries in mind. In SQL on the other hand, you can always go for a normalized structure and you are pretty safe to be prepared for most requirements that are coming in the future.

Additionally, I think drafting a DDL schema is a great way to learn about a new application domain. It forces me to ask hard questions. And that improves my understanding of the domain. I guess that is similar to some people who like to prototype using Haskell type signatures.

[1] Unless you mean specifically a document store without schemas.