[mikeryan]

My process would be this.

1. Decide that mysql (or other RDB) is problematic.

2. Decide which features cause the most pain (List them with the most painful on top)

3. Discover which alternative db solutions would do the best in alleviating the top issues.

[jbellis]

4. Start implementing, starting with the most-improvement-for-least-effort.

I'm saying the two lists are not mutually exclusive. :)