[amalter]

This was one of the main reasons explained to me on why db based queues are a code smell.

The other was that insert/select pattern of a queue hammers a db's index and data page fragmentation algorithms. Anyone know if this is still the case or am I repeating a wives-tale?

[fusiongyro]

There are so many factors that go into database performance, but I would expect high frequency queuing would be problematic even today for the reasons you mention. If the load is low it's probably fine.