The cookies spec really should be incorporated into the SSL/TLS layer. Right now it's basically performing two encryption/signing steps immediately after each

The cookies spec really should be incorporated into the SSL/TLS layer. Right now it's basically performing two encryption/signing steps immediately after each other, one at the web server, and another for the applications server. This is a pain-in-the-ass for the web server framework and adds several milliseconds of redundant latency. The cookie data should be signed with the web server's private key.