The config is needed in order to create devices for capturing, outputting and controlling the equalizer. Without it, it will not work. The config is standard, in the description for alsaequal it is suggested to register it for each user in the home directory. I think that if it is mandatory and standard, then you can immediately specify it in /etc/alsa/conf.d and save users from manual instructions.

Actually, the standard reason for creating any config in / etc!