I think the real problem right now is the lack of a decimal type.
An integer out of range could be converted to a decimal without 
loosing precision. I think this would be the right thing to do.
This is how Informix and DB/2 do it (and Oracle I guess).
I personally think postgresql should not force the user to use 
typecasts where it is not absolutely necessary.

Andreas

Mon, 9 Feb 1998 09:59:46 +0100
Zeugswetter Andreas SARZ <Andreas.Zeugswetter@telecom.at>
Re: integer to float8 propagation (missing decimal)