[Q] apt-get/dpkg & pkg customization

[<kynn@panix.com>]

What's the best way to install packages when one wants different build
parameters from those used to build its standard Debian distribution?

(In my pre-dpkg days, I would have just downloaded the source code,
compiled it with exactly those features I wanted, and installed the
newly built package, but I suspect that this "direct" approach is
likely to mess up the tracking of installed package done by dpkg and
apt-get.)

TIA,

kj

PS: pls cc me in your reply