--with autotools_dev,autoreconf : bad idea? (ppc64el FTBFS)

[Rebecca Palmer <rebecca_palmer@zoho.com>]

Debian coin3 currently uses --with autotools_dev [0] and hence FTBFS on 
ppc64el [1].  This bug is not yet in the BTS.

Ubuntu coin3 first tried to fix this by switching to --with 
autotools_dev,autoreconf , which didn't work [2].  They then also 
patched configure and aclocal.m4 [3], which worked, but #698765 suggests 
that --with autoreconf (only) is usually a better idea.

Should I suggest --with autoreconf, suggest the 
messier-but-known-to-build Ubuntu patch, or ignore it and wait for the 
official porters / someone who actually knows GNU auto* ?

[0] http://sources.debian.net/src/coin3/3.1.4~abc9f50-7/debian/rules/
[1] 
https://buildd.debian.org/status/fetch.php?pkg=coin3&arch=ppc64el&ver=3.1.4~abc9f50-7&stamp=1408933674
[2] 
https://launchpadlibrarian.net/167671837/buildlog_ubuntu-trusty-ppc64el.coin3_3.1.4~abc9f50-4ubuntu1_FAILEDTOBUILD.txt.gz
[3] 
http://launchpadlibrarian.net/167678623/coin3_3.1.4~abc9f50-4_3.1.4~abc9f50-4ubuntu2.diff.gz