// TODO(gak): tune this condition based on empirical evidence
    return (cellList.size() > (((long) rowSpace.size() * columnSpace.size()) / 2))
        ? new DenseImmutableTable<R, C, V>(cellList, rowSpace, columnSpace)
        : new SparseImmutableTable<R, C, V>(cellList, rowSpace, columnSpace);
  }

  /**
   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code existingValue} is not null.