Benchmark: 
timing 50000 iterations of
 if, switch
        if:  7 wallclock secs ( 5.41 usr +  0.00 sys =  5.41 CPU) @ 9242.14/s (n=50000)

    switch: 43 wallclock secs (39.85 usr +  0.00 sys = 39.85 CPU) @ 1254.71/s (n=50000)