Tom,
>> Now, while index scans (for indexes on disk) aren't 100% sequential
>> reads, it seems like we should be increasing (substantially) the
>> estimated cost of reverse index scans if the index is likely to be on
>> disk. No?
>
> AFAICS this is already folded into random_page_cost.
Not as far as I can tell. It looks to me like the planner is assuming
that a forwards index scan and a reverse index scan will have the same
cost.
--
Josh Berkus
PostgreSQL Experts Inc.
www.pgexperts.com