Well.. it is faster to use strict html, becouse server takes some time to make php functions/actions/code.. but it's less flexable to echo html text than php..
for ex. date( 'Y' ) takes only 2.5033950805664E-5 secconds to echo current date, othere single, not DB functions should take appr. same time to compleat them.
Consider better to use some chaching plugin instead of stripping out php code.