The PHP ecosystem has some really awful defaults which is why it's developed such a bad name for itself. It may be that many of these are there to accommodate misconfigured web hosts, but this behavior has a way of self-perpetuating.

Example: PHP 5.5 will be running for the next billion years because when mysql_query is finally put to rest in newer versions all those applications that depend on it will fall over. Thus, a legacy version of PHP will be supported by hosts, bugs, security holes and all.

"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain..."

PHP crossed the line from hero long ago.