Apache .htaccess vs httpd - does it really matter?

Question

I know this question has been asked many times and I\'ve researched it myself on Google as well but just can\'t come up with the answer I need.

My hosting company is NOT

Answer 1

Yes, it does matter. qouting from http://wiki.apache.org/httpd/Htaccess:

The use of .htaccess files is discouraged as they can have a detrimental effect on server performance. Only use them when necessary.