Of course, mechanical functions do affect repeat speed.

My concern with this thread was quality of image. That was essentially answered and came truly down to "it is something one must try and see", realizing a different scene may not have the dynamic range to be visibly affected by compression and another may be affected.  I have yet to prove that to myself or to try and do that.

With Danny doing in-flight photos, certainly rapid shooting coupled with rapid focus are most desired.   Even on servo (subject directed continuous focus),  it is easy to get an out of focus shot.  The speed limits seem here not so much memory card and buffer as mechanical limits.

As for buffer overload, I have pushed that shutter and clicked off about as many as I would likely need of a particular scene with a still camera, perhaps 10 or so.  With uncompressed or compressed there seems no real discernable difference in speed and no buffer overload.  Of course, I rarely shoot with rapid succession and some of you may do that with many more than 10 shots at  a session...

Yes, compressed or not, I do find composure the first aspect of a good shot, no one here is arguing that point.. I have not forgotten what photography is about...But with a flying bird sometimes it is simply keeping it in the focus area with continuous focus and rapid shots while wildly trying to stay on target   : )     Some photographers have shown ability to do that much better than the less practiced rest of us.        Tom.