I run a server and have always used .htaccess to modify php settings on a per directory basis. I am now opening my server to other people, so I need to refine the security model, which prevents me from using PHP as a module.

Unfortunately, I can't use PHP as a CGI at this time, because I have no way of changing options on a per directory basis.

I would be nice if PHP could be compiled with an option which would have it perform the following actions each time it is invoked as a CGI:

1. Parse the normal configuration file
2. Look in each directory from the document root to the script directory, and progressively parse php.ini files in those directories "overriding" any settings from the main php.ini file (but not otherwise disturbing the php configuration)

This is probably a fairly intensive hit for memory hungry machines, but AFAIK, it is the only way to provide per-directory PHP options in a similar mannar to .htaccess on servers which don't have .htaccess, or where security makes using .htaccess impossible.