[tex-live] texmf-local vs. texmf

[Karl Berry]

(texmf-var is created as far as I can tell.)

    TEXMFSYSCONFIG

TEXMFSYSCONFIG (or TEXMFCONFIG) could be used, although as I understand
it, they are for texconfig-sys (and texconfig) to store data.  I'm a bit
doubtful that recommending that users put files there is a good idea.
For one thing, they are version dependent (ie, texlive/2007/texmf-var,
not texlive/texmf-var).

At any rate, as Hans said, use of texmf-local for this is quite
traditional.

    Debian has long ago done that exchange.

Ah, that is interesting to know.

Thanks,
k