Question on maximum-rpm 4.1.1 Config file magic

[Stef Van Vlierberghe <stef van-vlierberghe pandora be>]

I am puzzled by this Config file magic, its seems to assume that config 
file contents is what needs to be carefully handled, and customizations 
thereof should not be silently erased, while their attributes, i.e. 
ownership and attributes require no similar attention, and can be freely 
wiped out.

Knowing how many config files in the linux installation carry sematic in 
their attributes, especially the execute permissions, I find this a very 
weird assumption.

Is there some documentation clarifying why this would make sense ?