docs: @Pure
  	public static boolean getDirectionSymbolInPreferredStringRepresentation() {
  		final Preferences prefs = Preferences.userNodeForPackage(GeodesicPosition.class);
  		if (prefs != null) {
  			return prefs.getBoolean("SYMBOL_IN_STRING_REPRESENTATION", DEFAULT_SYMBOL_IN_STRING_REPRESENTATION); //$NON-NLS-1$
  		}
  		return DEFAULT_SYMBOL_IN_STRING_REPRESENTATION;
  	}