computer-go: question

[Tim Klinger <klinger@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a question for those of you with working go-playing programs.  

If you had an oracle that could tell you the life and death status of any
block on the board, taking essentially no time to do so, how much do you
think it would improve your program?  If you like, you can also assume that
the oracle tells you how to go about making life for a block (if it's
possible).  You can even assume it tells you the *best* way to go about it,
with respect to an evaluation function of your choosing.

If it's easier, answer the question using one of the following ratings:

(1) not at all, (2) a little, (3) a fair bit, (4) a lot, (5) tremendously

and feel free to offer any qualifications.

Thanks.  I'm looking forward to your responses.

Tim

Just in case there's any confusion about what I mean by a 'block', I mean a
maximal set of adjacent stones of the same color (black or white).  I don't
mean groups or chains or anything less solidly connected.