is_active config setting

Hello list,

there is a setting to switch update of the last login time on and off
($updateLastLogin) in the config. But how is it done with the is_active
field?
As far as I can see it is used if an is_active field is found in the
table config. But wouldn't it be better to have a config key for that?
Something like $checkStatus = true/false?
I don't understand the different handling of updateLastLogin and is_active.
What do you think?

Georg