One thing Linux-Fan mentioned was `config-package-dev`. In my OP, I
commented about ``slightly old to really old tools'', and that was one
I was thinking of. It looks like it hasn't been touched in seven
years, and I wasn't sure if it still worked. But that drive by
comments lends some hope. Using it would help address Alex's concern
about modifying existing config files. That debhelper extension is
designed precisely for that situation. But, its age is pretty much
what inspired me to start this thread.