First caveat: I am not even close to being a SQL expert. I agree that pushing data rather than pulling it can be faster. I doubt that AC support would be able to help there as they don't tend to have SQL technician support.
As far as koby is concerned, there are practices which have used Standard versions of SQL and had a significant increase in performance. Especially large practices. But, SQL Server 2012 Standard is $2,800 with 10 CALs. There is simply no way 8,000 users are going to be able to swing that.