[sqlite] Adding PRAGMA=UTF-8 makes INSERT slower?

[Hayden Livingston]

I was getting garble in my SQLite database, so I switched
PRAGMA=UTF-16 on for my INSERT statements. These are getting prepared.

I noticed my total time dramatically increased.

I then switched to UTF-8 thinking it's the increased writes causing
it, no noticeable difference, i.e. it's just as slow as PRAGMA=UTF-16.

Removing PRAGMA from my INSERT statements brings back the performance.

Any ideas?