1. A method for optimizing the collection of transactional statistics of a database, the method comprising: a processor of a computerized database-optimization system capturing transaction information of a production database system, where the production database system comprises an optimizer module and stores data on a production hardware storage medium, where the captured transaction information describes a characteristic of a data-access transaction associated with a data element and a logical element stored on the production hardware storage medium, and where the database-optimization system is distinct from the optimizer module and from the production hardware storage medium, where the capturing comprises reading database-transaction data stored on the production hardware storage medium; the processor storing the captured information in a transaction-log repository located on a first computer-readable hardware storage medium that is distinct from the production hardware storage medium; the processor updating a repository of cumulative statistical data associated with the production database as a function of the captured transaction information, where the cumulative statistical data is capable of being used by the optimizer module to increase the efficiency of the data-access operation, and where the updating comprises the processor inferring from the captured transaction information metadata that identifies a characteristic of the logical element; the processor further updating a metadata repository as a function of the inferred metadata, where the metadata repository is stored on a second computer-readable hardware storage medium that is distinct from the production hardware storage medium, and where the metadata repository stores information that identifies characteristics of a plurality of logical elements associated with the production database; and the processor making the cumulative statistical data available to the optimizer module.