Paul, On profiles which you create, you are encouraged to provide sources that other people can follow up on. In the absence of a source, the default wording is applied.
It is not intended to remain, and should be edited as soon as possible, either changing the wording as you suggest, or preferably adding a proper source. Chris will have no objection to you changing the wording on profiles, but it is his preferred wording for unsourced profiles.
For plenty of other discussions about this, and Chris's reasonings for keeping it, search G2G for 'first hand information as remembered by'.
Margaret