**Why distinction matters**: PySpark = library; Databricks = platform. **PySpark**: Spark's Python API; runs anywhere (EMR, local, K8s). **Databricks**: Managed platform with notebooks, clusters, Delta, ML, Workflows, Unity Catalog. PySpark runs *on* Databricks. **Scalability trade-offs**: Raw PySpark = you manage clusters, deployment; Databricks = managed. **Cost implications**: Databricks = DBU + platform; PySpark on EMR = EC2 + support....
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