Is SQL Server Express' 4GB limit affected by FILESTREAM enabled columns?

Question

I have read some conflicting reports on the net about whether the 4GB limit of SQL Server Express takes into account the contents of FILESTREAM. Can anyone say for certain citing official documentation whether SQL Server Express storage limit is affected by FILESTREAM contents?

Answer 1

SQL Server Express supports FILESTREAM. The 4-GB database size limit does not include the FILESTREAM data container.

From: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb895334.aspx

Answer 2

According to Mike Wachal (a program manager in the SQL Server group) in this forum post, the pointer information to the blobs is included, but the blobs themselves are not. I know it's not "official documentation", but it does come from someone within the SQL Server group.