I know it's a bit of thread-necromacy, but, as I just used it, managed to bring typo into /sbin/preinit, get unbootable device, and fix it, thanks to Mentalist Traceur's recovery shell, I think I'll put this info here (even if only for myself, if I ever need to re-find it again):

Yes, changing sleep_ind from 1 to 0 in /etc/pmconfig persist through reboots, there is no need to comment out things in /sbin/preinit.

Even more - /sbin/preinit does something strange here. If R&D mode is enabled, it enables indicator leds, then, in very next line, it checks /etc/pmconfig. If sleep_ind is enabled, it keep it that way, if it's disabled, it disables LED's (that were enabled just a line ago!).

Why it does this, instead of checking /etc/pmconfig only, it's beyond me. Maybe it's some leftover from times, where they planned to allow keyboard activity flickering even without R&D mode?

In fact, by little tweak to /sbin/preinit, one may take check of /etc/pmconfig out of IF, and make LED flickering depending *only* on entry in /etc/pmconfig, R&D mode or not. It sounds like more sane approach, all-together.

/Estel