.htaccess doesn't have to affect performance; this is more of a historical artifact. With an HTTP server expecting a read-only site root, you could only read every .htaccess once, when you replaced the site root filesystem with a new version. A user could still see a read-write filesystem, only with a "save" button (command, etc.) that created and mounted a new read-only site root.

While it is a performance and security burden, people reject .htaccess is too readily. It has enabled users who aren't quite programmers to assemble sites out of web applications and components that live in different subdirectories. It has clear value. (Not that I think nginx should implement it.)

> This happens for EVERY request.

It doesn't need to, though.

These days you only need .htaccess for compatibility with old PHP apps. Stacking another instance of Apache on top feels bloated.

nginx conf is self-inflicted pain...