So, here are answers to previous comments:
Yes, I'm at a MySQL conference.
Yes, gonna bring back good ideas. (that's the whole point of conferences, right?)
And here are my slide notes, licensed in into the Creative Commons (see first slide for more info):
http://www.danga.com/words/2004_mysqlcon/
At the storage engine talk by Brian Aker and Sergei Golubchik.