[zombielifestyle]

I agree with OP, although I think the code example is misleading (but still awful).

Why? Configuration/Bootstrapping is needed, with simple, small and loosely coupled components even more, because you don't want to tie a some configuration monster to it. But it would indeed turn out to be a simpler configuration, usually a nice little array with few keys bootstraps any simple component nicely. On framework level it can be more DRY. Downside, every "framework" solves bootstrapping and configuration on it's own. Which would me make always feel bad about running multiple frameworks side by side.

For components (objects) configuration we could solve a lot of problems if the php community could agree about an plain array configuration protocol to set them up. At least it would be interesting if it's doable.