Database vs Cards

[Mike Doub]

I am planning the design of an address book like application.   I have been
studying the Employee database tutorial and have noticed that the scripts
are duplicated on each card.  I am planning to support about 3000 entries.
That would seem to be pretty wasteful.

Can anyone comment of their experience with lots of cards? I am concerned
with both memory and performance.  I have no experience with using a
databases so I was trying not to lean in that direction.

--Thanks
   Mike