pg_ctl vs full restart

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003, Allen Landsidel wrote:

Here's maybe a silly question, but I haven't seen it asked or answered
so.. For those settings in the .conf file that say "this doesn't take
effect until the database is restarted".. does that mean that "pg_ctl
reload" also does not reload them?

I imagine the statement is specific, and means what it says, but I'm
curious anyway..

Yep, a restart trumps a reload. I.e. things that need reloading will get
changed at restart as well, but things that need a restart won't get
changed during a reload.

Some things can only be set on the startup of the postmaster. i.e.
restart