Set default strategy options for merge/rebase

Is it (or would it be) possible to set the default strategy and strategy options as provided by merge/rebase ``-s`` and ``-X`` in gitconfig?

I found myself comparing several conflicts using recursive's -Xpatience, and in some cases the difference is quite staggering, changing from a jumbled mess to a compact and readable diff.

I'd love to be able to set it as a default to play around more (without aliasing, that is).

It's also unclear to me from the documentation of git merge whether -Xdiff-algorithm=? is an exception to the default diff algorithm (diff.algorithm) or if that's completely independent setting meaning that merge always ignores diff.algorithm to begin with.

And also, is -Xpatience just a shortcut to -Xdiff-algorithm=patience?

Thanks!