The Drupal 7 installer requires the installing user to create sites/default/files directory but the user does not necessarily want to store the managed files in that directory. Wouldn't it be nicer if we ask for a path with the default set to sites/default/files or just give the option on the install screen to set the storage directory?
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It's likely this issue predates Contrib.social: some issue and comment data are missing.
@Jody Lynn, thanks for the idea.
It appears that this was answered shortly after posting 11 years to explain why the suggested change would be confusing. There has been no further comments to support the idea. Therefore, I am closing this as working as designed.