bitcoin/bitcoin — pull request #4690 by jgarzik (2014-08-13 00:54:48+00:00)
Title: Build bitcoin-cli unconditionally.

Extremely small value in making this optional. bitcoin-cli almost always has utility.

Further, distro builders and other packagers typically build everything, then cherry-pick if something needs to be elided. Developers normally build bitcoin-cli.

The target audience for this option approaches zero. I'm sure it satisfies some engineer's OCD somewhere, but is otherwise of little practical value. :)