delete-selection-mode hard to turn off

[jidanni]

We see
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delete-selection-mode is a variable defined in `delsel.el'.
Setting this variable directly does not take effect[1];
either customize it (see the info node `Easy Customization')
or call the function `delete-selection-mode'.

delete-selection-mode is an interactive compiled Lisp function in `delsel.el'.
Toggle Delete Selection mode.
With prefix ARG, turn Delete Selection mode on if and only if ARG is
positive.[2]

[3]When Delete Selection mode is enabled, Transient Mark mode is also
enabled and typed text replaces the selection if the selection is
active.  Otherwise, typed text is just inserted at point regardless of
any selection.[4]
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[1]: works just like [3]: when done in the current buffer, but NOT
when done from .emacs (http://jidanni.org/comp/.emacs). Should I put
it in find-file-hook? I do not wish to enter the customization
interface to fix this problem. My goal is behavior [4].

P.S., wording [2] gives no way to explicitly turn it OFF. One can only
hope nil works. emacs-version "22.1.1"