Those are default values for when there is nothing stored in the configuration file at all.
ie; !$config
After you visit/submit the configuration page in the Control Panel for the very first time, values get set, and those lines of code you quoted are never used.
Its intended as a safety net for when a forum is upgraded from an older version, and the admin neglects configuring their forum attachment settings.
edit:
its similar to using "Your Forum Name" as the default forum name used, when an admin has not set one yet.
Last edited by isaac; 01/11/2018 2:54 PM.
