message from my web host regarding .htaccess

After trying in vain to find my ‘elusive’ .htaccess file, i finally get somewhere:

MY HOST JUST SENT ME THIS MSG:

I have consulted with our administrators on the matter, and it seems that the recent versions of the WordPress script do not require .htaccess file, and the permalinks are actually working with it and that is why .htaccess files are no longer included in the installation of the script. Of course, if you wish, you can at any time create a .htaccess file and enter additional rules in it, but the default permalinks no longer depend on that file.
If you wish, you can find a .htaccess file from older WordPress versions at their support forum

is this true, guys? i cant believe nobody in the wordpress support forums told me this. seems my web hosts know more about wordpress than us lot put together(!)
HH