I suppose one could forego the config.json file completely and use environment variables to configure their NodeBB. The properties are the same.
url=http://localhost:4567 database=redis node app.js etc...
@julian There didn't appear to be a way of managing this number plus I assumed there are already lots of things node already does to modify this number.
I wanted completely control of it, including the ability to "spend" it on things down the road.