> So are you saying local-name() is inefficent compared to an 
> axes based test? 

Can't speak for other processors but that's certainly the case for Saxon
(using self::x doesn't involve run-time string comparisons); also using an
axis NameTest gives better type information if you're using a schema. Also,
perhaps more importantly, it avoids the temptation to write code that isn't
namespace-correct.

Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/