using an ORM "library" was just as problematic, because data access is something that gets fairly deep in to a project. Had we tied the project to, say, symphony, there would have been a better upgrade path (but that brought its own set of challenges). We adopted a few libraries instead of "a full framework" but when the libraries are abandoned... you still have a lot of work to refactor.
>>mgkims+(OP)
I believe we are talking about the same thing but I lack the experience of projects big/complicated enough to really grasp the difficulties.