> By my reading of FHS, that is the only reason you would
> every want the /lib<alternate> format to be used in the first place.
> However, if installing in /usr and your distro is one that uses /lib64 for libs in
> general on 64 bit installs, I can see wanting everything to end up in the same
> directory, but for installs in /opt, I just think it makes the directory look a
> lot messier to have lib64 hanging around.

That is exactly why this PITA system exists: multi-lib support --- to install and run 32-bit software on 64-bit systems. One such app is WINE. For a long time the Adobe flash plugin was another such beast. I think Skype is 32-bit too.

Darrell