We've solved this type of problem before with a set of meta-config entries. Each field gets an entry in the meta-config table. There is a small mouse-over widge

We've solved this type of problem before with a set of meta-config entries. Each field gets an entry in the meta-config table. There is a small mouse-over widget next to each config field that allows you to view/edit comments for that specific config item. It's no where near as simple as comments in a text file, but it's more "user" friendly, where the user is someone other than a programmer. The primary reason one builds a GUI around a configuration is for guidance. Text based configuration is great if you're accustomed to reading error messages that contain line numbers, but GUI interfaces are able to provide a lot clearer direction for visually oriented people. With a GUI, you can highlight the issues using color, weight, and even motion. You can also provide guidance for correcting the error directly next to the item with the issue.