"Jeremy C. Reed" wrote:

> Why does it matter if these binaries are a.out? (They worked.)

  For executables, there is usually no problem, but for libraries,
plugins, etc. there is.  Since the package system has no way of knowing
whether a package in ELF format will actually work together with a
prerequisite package in a.out format, it's probably best to play safe.

  Cheers
      ,
   Rene