> I never did get a definitive answer on or off the list from someone who
> _knows_, so I thought I would focus the question.
> 
> Is the following option only "useful" for 386DX machines that do NOT
> have a 387 math processor installed?  Is it pointless to include this
> option when a 387 math processor is installed, or when the cpu is 486
> and higher?
> options         MATH_EMULATE    # floating point emulation

Correct with one exception.  Original 486 CPU, subsequently renamed 486 DX, 
included floating point instructions, hence no need to emulate.  Later, for some
cockeyed reason, Intel put out a 486 SX, which was a 486 with floating-point 
part disabled.  Then a 487 processor could be added to remedy this deficiency.
So a 486 SX would also require MATH_EMULATE.  I can't imagine where one would
find a 387 or 487 these days.

How we forget history!  One computer dealer near here, who knew only 
Windows 95/98/ME, said the 386 and 486 were 16-bit processors!  I don't want to
deal with somebody so ignorant!