Graphics reset to recommended on logon

I'm using an ATI Radeon 9200 card. Most of the time when I run the viewer (1.19.1 (4)) I get a message that my "Graphics have been set to the recommened settings based on your hardware". The custom settings I'm using are available for my hardware or I couldn't set them, and they don't seem to make any noticable difference in performance. Is this a known bug or a new "feature"? Anybody know how to diable it?

The recommended settings are apparently the default "Low" setting. What I do is check the custom box and check "Bump mapping and shiny", set terrain detail to High, and Turn on local lights. I leave Avatar imposters checked. All other options are greyed out. Sliders are set at mid and low and I leave 'em as is. VBO is off.

I was also getting this on another machine with much better graphics, but only with the 1.20 RC2 release candidate. The 1.19.1 (4) doesn't do it. RC2 is the latest I've tried

Oh, I meant to add that I tried to check the jira to see if it was a known bug or was reported as a bug and dismissed, but I couldn't get the jira page to open.