If you compose SQL with subqueries you tend to do less composition in general (because you are restricted in what you can compose), and you are more at the mercy of the query planner, which is its own black box.
I'd rather simply understand how my ORM generates queries, and then use the ORM to get the full power of my language of choice in creating the right SQL queries.
I'd rather simply understand how my ORM generates queries, and then use the ORM to get the full power of my language of choice in creating the right SQL queries.