Config files

[mairving]

I am curious as to what others strategies are for placing files in Linux. I have loaded quite a few distros lately trying to find the right flavor. It seems they all stick files in different places. Here is an example, if you install Mandrake & Slack with Apache compiled, Mandrake creates a directory /httpd in /etc. Slack creates a directory called /apache in /var/lib/apache.

I have come up with a plan of sorts.

• Create a directory /usr/local/downloads for downloaded files.
  
• If given a choice, create a directory for all new programs in /usr/local/new program name
  
• Don't use RPM's which will put things where they see fit. Of course, using slack will cure any RPM envies.
  

What are other strategies?