Actually, it returns `undefined` if the Scope doesn't have the value. Which is very important, because `null` is potentially a valid value for a pref. `undefined` is the signal that there is no value defined there.

Empty object is the signal to the PreferencesManager that it was defined in the Scope's base data (and not in a layer). The PreferencesManager will fill in the `scope` value on that object. (The Scope itself can't do it because it doesn't know its own name...)

Perhaps a comment or two is warranted here...