I see your point. Although most online custom applications can be exported from SQL databases to Excel spreadsheets and downloaded, it is very simple to become familiar with most of the custom applications such as (extensions, modules, components and addons). Becoming familiar with a few tools will speed up the process of sorting and finding any data. Going from SQL to CSV (Excel) is just another step. Sure, for some that are too comfortable with the basic Microsoft ways of doing things there may be no other option. But for those who are willing to try new tools, using new tools is just a way of life.

In many ways, exporting too many spreadsheets just leads to confusion; especially if the website contains downloads, forums, blogs, shopping carts, directories and more. The software developers who go out of their way to make apps as idiot-proof as they can make finding, storing, and sorting data easy. With a few dollars spent in more custom web development and a few simple lessons, almost anyone who can check email can be up and running and take control.

As far as general capabilities goes, importing a CSV file to an SQL database table and exporting a database table to CSV for Excel is just part of what can be done with a few simple SQL commands.

The bottom line is that Excel is not used to power forums, blogs, shopping carts, and any other PHP extension; even though the data can be exported into this format.