Why not just use the Apache Module?

If you've got root access to the box, is there any reason not to just use the Apache module like https://www.projecthoneypot.org/httpbl_download.php

Seems like apt-get install mod_httpbl might get you all that you'd need from this module without having to add any new PHP when a page is loaded.

I'm probably missing something, but figured you folk would be the ones to know. Not everyone has root access on the server, but there may be other reasons why folks are using the PHP version of httpbl. I just don't know them.