But "more columns than there are tables" is also why I put the thing about, "the total number of columns most people would need autocomplete for are rather limi

But "more columns than there are tables" is also why I put the thing about, "the total number of columns most people would need autocomplete for are rather limited?" I could see an argument on how this mattered back at the origin of SQL, but today? It is entirely conceivable that you can autocomplete the column names with it updating the from as necessary for the columns you have selected. You could then tab to the from and pick alternative tables with natural joins prefilled between the tables. With very minimum effort. I actually seem to recall this was done in some of the early dedicated SQL tools. It is rather amusing how much we handicap ourselves by not using some things older tools built.