export with "first rows"

[Ed Lewis]

Hello,     We have the optimizer mode set to "first rows" on our (25gb) database to meet a vendor requirement. When I do an "direct" export, it runs for 6-7 hours.   When I change the optimizer mode to "choose" it runs in around an hour. It also runs in an hour when I set the the optimizer mode to "first rows", and run stats on the "sys" schema.   I'm curious why this occurs. Has anyone experienced this ? Any ideas why this happens ? Is this normal behavior ? I could not find anything on metalink. thanks.   Oracle 8.1.7.2, aix 4.3.3.               ed