diff --git a/docs/src/filesystem.md b/docs/src/filesystem.md
index e414cabc..15da9924 100644
--- a/docs/src/filesystem.md
+++ b/docs/src/filesystem.md
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ in derived builds.
 ## `/etc`
 
 The `/etc` directory contains mutable persistent state by default; however,
-it is suppported to enable the [`etc.transient` config option](https://ostreedev.github.io/ostree/man/ostree-prepare-root.html),
+it is suppported (and encouraged) to enable the [`etc.transient` config option](https://ostreedev.github.io/ostree/man/ostree-prepare-root.html),
 see below as well.
 
 When in persistent mode, it inherits the OSTree semantics of [performing a 3-way merge](https://ostreedev.github.io/ostree/atomic-upgrades/#assembling-a-new-deployment-directory)
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ across upgrades.  In a nutshell:
 - The diff between current and previous `/etc` is applied to the new `/etc`
 - Locally modified files in `/etc` different from the default `/usr/etc` (of the same deployment) will be retained
 
+You can view the state via `ostree admin config-diff`. Note that the "diff"
+here is includes metadata (uid, gid, extended attributes), so changing any of those
+will also mean that updated files from the image are not applied.
+
 The implementation of this defaults to being executed by `ostree-finalize-staged.service`
 at shutdown time, before the new bootloader entry is created.
 
@@ -96,6 +100,10 @@ would require external intervention to apply.
 
 For more on configuration file best practices, see [Building](building/guidance.md).
 
+To emphasize again, it's recommended to enable `etc.transient` if possible, though
+when using that you may need to store some machine-specific state in e.g. the
+kernel commandline if applicable.
+
 ### `/usr/etc`
 
 The `/usr/etc` tree is generated client side and contains the default container image's