[Serusers] Alternative to Mysql?

I'm trying to get SER up and I need auth. I'm not a Mysql user and, frankly, I'd rather not need to learn it, just to get authentication support. I wish there were a middle-ground between no-auth at all and a full-blown Mysql installation. I tried the Cookbook approach, using Dan Austin's HOWTO for setting up Mysql for SER, but the commands do not work as shown so I'm left with learning Mysql through and through to debug why those cookbook commands don't work. I'm very familiar with SIP and I want to test SER, not a new Sql server DB engine. It seems like Mysql is a distraction to that effort. Is anyone working on something like a flat-file module to replace Mysql? Any pointers for the best place to start on developing such a module (i.e. shortcuts)? Thanks, - david