... loaded[*][*]
Not quite true; it needs some fallback defaults if all else fails.
...Knuth:1984.[*][*]
Note that \mathalpha is an NFSS2 addition to the list of possible types.
...encoding.[*][*]
This is an addition to the NFSS since version 1.
... macros.[*][*]
This will become the default in <LaTeX>3.
... files.[*][*]
Unless you are a rather advanced guru, and commonly add extra features to your format files.
... file[*][*]
It is strongly advised that you do not make your new <LaTeX> an option, by making a new command, but that you use it for all your work from now on.