I'd say time spent optimizing grep (GNU or otherwise) is always well spent. Saving a clock cycle or two per execution in my work's enterprise would translate in

I'd say time spent optimizing grep (GNU or otherwise) is always well spent. Saving a clock cycle or two per execution in my work's enterprise would translate into needing to lease less hardware, based just on how much grep is used. I imagine the same is true of all large Unix-y enterprises.