hi,
actually php was a cgi module in its early days, even now by default
when u compile php from tarballs, u get a cgi version. commercial
distros like redhat include prebuilt php version which comes as a so
with apache, but i m damn sure there php comes in cgi avatar when u dont
include the apxs2 or apxs flag while configuring. php recommendations
may be FUD as u say, but hey guys who created php know more than us, i'd
rather play safe. stability wise too apache 1.3 is lot more stable than
apache2
regards
Sudharshan S