ncurses isn't required as part of the configuration -- debconf allows command line setting (and reading) of variables, and if it runs in a headless environment

ncurses isn't required as part of the configuration -- debconf allows command line setting (and reading) of variables, and if it runs in a headless environment things like "note" get emailed to root if they can't be displayed. Our ubuntu builds are either 1) On real hardware, in which case it's a network boot which takes an IP address etc, and configured the partitions but allows you to override it (you have to press ok) or 2) On KVM builds, where virt-install is used, network detail is specified on the command line upfront and partitioning is fully automatic. Thus the majority of debconf settings are either default (a requirement of the package manager is a sensible default), or specified in the preseed file.