Why are all those definitions of the IRCD_HYBRID_* variables in 
mk/defaults/mk.conf? They are used in exactly _one_ package, namely 
chat/ircd-hybrid. I thinks it's far more appropriate to do this in the 
chat/ircd-hybrid/Makefile:

     # Include the user-defined settings
     .include "../../mk/bsd.prefs.mk"

     # Provide useful default values
     IRCD_HYBRID_FOO?=	bar
     ...
     BUILD_DEFS+= IRCD_HYBRID_FOO

The file mk/defaults/mk.conf is intended to be skimmed over by the 
casual pkgsrc user to find settings {s,}he is likely to need. Assuming 
this, the file should be reserved for the _important_ pkgsrc settings. 
Settings that only affect a single package are not important by my 
definition. :)

Roland