[coreutils] feature request: make chown/chmod/chgrp --verbose/--changes additionally show original property

[marcel partap]

Dear coreutil hackers,
as anyone doing *n*x housework regularly, i also am using these tools on a regular basis, in scripts and manually. What i often miss 
(especially when invoking actions recursively with -Rc, and regretting part of the modifications shortly after) is the output of the 
original state the file was in. Example:
> changed ownership of `robots.txt' to www-data:www-data
Well i am glad about that, but who was it owned by before? It would be nice to 
have this shown as one of
> changed ownership of `robots.txt' to www-data:www-data (from root:root)
> changed ownership of `robots.txt' from root:root to www-data:www-data
> changed ownership of `robots.txt' root:root > www-data:www-data
While this example is not of much importance.. well consider this (made up):
> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' changed to 
> 0666 (rw-rw-rw-)
Mmmkay, ack that file shouldn't be +x... but what would be of real interest: 
WAS it executable before? Same proposal mockup:
> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' changed to 
> 0666 (rw-rw-rw-)  (from 0777 (rwxrwxrwx))
> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' changed 
> from 0777 (rwxrwxrwx) to 0666 (rw-rw-rw-)
> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' changed: 0777 
> (rwxrwxrwx) > 0666 (rw-rw-rw-)
To not break any scripts, this could be implemented as --print-original-state additional option to -v/-c. And please forgive for not 
attaching a finished patch ;)
best regards,
marcel.