checkpatch.pl only gives guidance; it is not a hard requirement. You
should have good reasons if you deviate from it though.
Also check with sparse (Documentation/sparse.txt). And there is much
more you should have a look at before you send proposed patches, see
Documentation/SubmitChecklist.
--
Stefan Richter
-=====-==--- ---= -=---
http://arcgraph.de/sr/
--