I can't imagine why you wouldn't want that. Its been std on *nix for yrs; the user's info is stored in the /etc/passwd file EXCEPT for the passwd (& passwd/acct aging info), which is stored in /etc/shadow.
passwd file is world readable, shadow file is not; it is administered by the passwd cmd, which is setuid root ie can be run by anyone, but runs as root.
It does not allow dumping of shadow file content.

chrism01: Your comment has made me realize that I do not understand the password system at all.

Technically, I do still believe that there is a bug in the Debian install system, at least for this particular release for this particular architecture, in that it is possible to select an install combination which will lead to a failing system. As for older releases and/or other architectures, I have no information. In reality, whether someone wiser then me would ever select such an install configuration, is yet another question.

In that spirit, I will mark this thread as solved.