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If the real file is owned by root the soft link cannot be changed to group user even by superuser. Example: Netscape mail file as /root/nsmail/Inbox I wanted to ftp a the file from work to check my mail from netscape. Since security prevents a root ftp login (that's good) I log in as a mortal user. I cannot get the mail because the user permissions granted to root are unchangable. I have to telnet in as a mortal user, su to root, copy the file to the users directory, change the permissions to 666, log out, ftp back to my site and get the file. Ugh!!
Symbolic links have no real permissions. Relying on being able to change the owner/mode/etc. of symbolic links and not modifying the actual file is a bad idea.