[eluser]WanWizard[/eluser]
Session:

ess_write() is called in set_userdata(), unset_userdata(). And all flash methods except flashdata() call set_userdata(), unset_userdata() or both, so they indirectly also initiate a write.
Note that if you use the database backend, this means that you have as many update queries on your session table as you have cookies in the header. From a performance point of view not a very good idea either.