It was probably done this way to allow their use in parts where the inner surface forms a hole - such as 6157.dat.
I don't have a problem with you doing this, so long as you assess the impact of the change on the existing official and unofficial files that use them, and update them too. You'll need a new primitive for parts like 6157, though (stud4af2n ?). Don't forget to update the stu24f* partners.
Current usage of stud4f* primitives:
Official
parts/2577.dat
parts/4600.dat
parts/4854.dat
parts/4871.dat
parts/6157.dat
parts/30242.dat
parts/30295.dat
parts/47974.dat
parts/52037.dat
parts/92099.dat
parts/72454.dat
parts/u9204.dat
parts/11215.dat
parts/47116.dat
parts/s/2336s01.dat
parts/s/30295s4.dat
parts/s/30072s01.dat
parts/s/47116s02.dat
parts/s/47116s03.dat
parts/s/47116s04.dat
parts/s/47116s05.dat
Unofficial
parts/30235.dat
parts/30262.dat
parts/6087.dat
parts/s/33230s01.dat
I don't have a problem with you doing this, so long as you assess the impact of the change on the existing official and unofficial files that use them, and update them too. You'll need a new primitive for parts like 6157, though (stud4af2n ?). Don't forget to update the stu24f* partners.
Current usage of stud4f* primitives:
Official
parts/2577.dat
parts/4600.dat
parts/4854.dat
parts/4871.dat
parts/6157.dat
parts/30242.dat
parts/30295.dat
parts/47974.dat
parts/52037.dat
parts/92099.dat
parts/72454.dat
parts/u9204.dat
parts/11215.dat
parts/47116.dat
parts/s/2336s01.dat
parts/s/30295s4.dat
parts/s/30072s01.dat
parts/s/47116s02.dat
parts/s/47116s03.dat
parts/s/47116s04.dat
parts/s/47116s05.dat
Unofficial
parts/30235.dat
parts/30262.dat
parts/6087.dat
parts/s/33230s01.dat
Chris (LDraw Parts Library Admin)