rewrite rules in httpd.conf rather than .htaccess

[eluser]chrisco23[/eluser]
I use the method that most of you probably use to keep index.php from showing in the URL: rewrite rules in .htaccess

Someone told me it's faster to put this kind of thing in httpd.conf than in an .htaccess file. My question is:

1. Is it true? Seems to make sense to me. That way it wouldn't have to touch .htaccess every time. Probably performance difference is negligible though?

2. Is it possible? Is it even possible to put these rewrite rules that we use to keep index.php out of the URL, in httpd.conf


Thanks,
Chris