Rachael,

One of the reasons to develop DataDictionaries was (and is) that one can centralize business rules and make sure all modules maintain the data in the same way.

For performance there are certainly reasons to not use Data Dictionaries and instead using the commands (FIND, SAVE etc) or ESQL and they should be used for this but don't escape too much as you end up in the DataFlex 2.3 era programs where every FLX had its own 'mind'.