If we would've reached that stage, I'd be happy enough. There's enough software out there that requires restarting the process and doesn't support the edit/HUP method.
And while I'd prefer something like Lua, tcl or lisp to SQL, at least it ain't XML.
Configuration files need to be static key value or a relational algebra - you cannot have mutations and branches based on logic within a configuration or else you introduce issues you wouldn't want to even dream of.
And while I'd prefer something like Lua, tcl or lisp to SQL, at least it ain't XML.