Standard answer incomming:

It depends!

I have 55 databases on my main production server, ranging in size from 50 mb to 85 GB.  It handles about...

Only way you should get that message is if one of the columns have identity on them, script out the table definitions and look for it. 

Easily solved though, just...

As much I do not like short release cycles I think actualy it might be better.  WIth a short cycle between releases MS don't have time to completely change the...

You don't need to set user databases in single user mode.  To have a succesfull restore you do need to make sure none is connected to the database though.

And someone that really wants in would most likely have observed you knowing which finger you use to get in (assuming it is a pro wanting in to the building). ...

I'm just trying to figure out why anyone would do that. I mean, what's the purpose behind selecting a variable out of a table? 

Not that I haven't seen some...

I THINK an upgrade would be ok.  But being a laptop I can't see why it would be a big deal to just backup the databases, uninstall MSDE, install Dev...

I'm everything!

I'm the "goto guy" whenever there is any questions or jobs regarding SQL.  At least that has been my job at most...

MS order page for Developer Edition:

http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/product.aspx?view=22&pcid=f544888c-2638-48ed-9f0f-d814e8b93ca0&crumb=catpage&catid=cd1daedd-9465-4aef-a7bf-8f5cf09a4dc0#HowToBuy

The developer edition is functionally equivalent to Enterprise Edition, so the cap on DB sizes should go away.

Not sure about what will happen when...

Good write up.

Carl, see the discussion in this thread:

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/forums/shwmessage.aspx?forumid=146&messageid=363960

Sounds like a new business venture! 

I was going to suggest contact a consulting firm or someone else in your city that uses SQL...

Most likely you would want to use an identity value in SQL and not issue the ticket number until the first time you do a save.