[wp-hackers] Why hard-code the base URL (and directory)?

[Hydrostarr]

Why does WordPress hard-code the base URL and directory?  (Both are 
hard-coded in back-end database.)  Why not leave this up to Apache 
mappings in my Linux installs, making all references to paths (either in 
URL/web space or filesystem space) relative?  This seems to be how may 
other web apps in my server installs do it.

Makes it difficult to port/test/demo installs/sites modularly.  eg, when 
demo-ing multiple, independent revs of same site to client, like in:

Details: http://goo.gl/ldbkI

Thoughts?