For a good reason, __package_apt doesn't install recommended packages as
default. But the option --install-recommends comes handy if you want to
install a package where you want to install all recommended packages
(and not to install all of them separately).
Also, the manpage now explains that the type won't install recommended
packages by default.
Configuration files are not purged under Debian when the package
is deinstalled. If this parameter is given, they are deleted upon
package deinstallation.