[Wikipedia-l] Sysop SQL queries disabled

[Bryan Derksen]

At 01:44 PM 1/26/2004 -0800, Brion Vibber wrote:
>Sysop SQL queries on the database are now disabled. If people have an 
>urgent need to perform queries and know what they're doing, we may be able 
>to open up access on an individual basis, but please be aware that SQL 
>offers many ways to shoot yourself in the foot.

The only times I've ever used SQL queries have been as a way to do 
specialized searches of article text, for example a searching for strings 
or for specific wiki or HTML markup. Also to do searches with boolean 
terms. Would it be possible to create some sort of "power search" function 
that allows only "safe" SQL queries like that?