/etc/hosts IP address requirement?????

Is it really true that Informix has the requirement that all client IP addresses must be in the /etc/hosts table on the server in order to connect?? I just thought my predecessors on this system missed something by setting it up this way, but according to the manuals and tech support, this is really true. I basically want to allow any address to connect, i'll handle security after that. Trying to keep all valid users addresses current (people move around a lot...) is becoming a Major Payne, and buckshotting all possible addresses is all but impossible in a company the size and complexity of EDS. Has anybody made any progress on this one??? Alternatively, is there some rational reason why this is that I'm missing?? At least i'd have something intelligent to say when people ask why do you care what my IP address is??? I'm told Oracle & Sybase have no such requirement. gm.