> the current defaults are quite reasonable, as far as I'm concerned.

I agree.  I'm not talking about changing defaults.  

All I'm after is being able to make and install say /bin/sh with
debugging info, without having to edit the Makefile, currently, short
of running make CFLAGS="all the flags that are normally set..."  that
is not possible - it should be.  And I _occasionally_ find I need to
compile something without -O so that gdb can follow what is going on
and/or not lead you astray.

So yes, the defaults are fine, but they should be just that -
defaults. 

--sjg