Ok, so I have to admit that I've been one to disregard figures around performance when arguing with co-workers over the merit of managed code vs C/C++. I've even used the argument that statically typed languages like Java and C# offer more hints to the compiler that allow for optimizations not possible in unmanaged code. I still have a fairly pragmatic view of the spectrum of cost to deliver (skill set/maintainability) vs performance gains... but regardless of all that..... wow this article completely humbled and inspired me.
I don't know shit.
http://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/6/fa08/6.197/courseMaterial/topics/topic2/lectureNotes/Intro_and_MxM/Intro_and_MxM.pdf
