DESCRIPTION boot logically a command, and is kept in/etc only to lessen the probability of its being invoked by accident or from curiosity. It reboots the system by jumping to the read--only memory, which contains a disk boot program....and similar for mkfs:
This program is kept in/etc to avoid inadvertant use and consequent destruction of information.
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The manual from 1971 on http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/who/dmr/1stEdman.htm l shows that several programs, among them assembler (The B Assembler), compilator and libraries etc. (pun not intended) were in /etc.
/etc/boot
/etc only to lessen ...and similar for mkfs:
/etc to avoid inadvertant use and
Interesting comment about boot:
NAME boot -- reboot system
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION boot logically a command, and is kept in
the probability of its being invoked by accident or from
curiosity. It reboots the system by jumping to the read--only
memory, which contains a disk boot program.
This program is kept in
consequent destruction of information.