Package: dpkg
Version: 1.18.25
1st loop in /etc/cron.daily/dpkg treats missing file as a reason to backup.
2nd loop does handle missing files okay.
Result is without any arch file, unchanged files are backed up daily which
can be critical when the storage medium has limited life.
Adding a line in first /etc/cron.daily/dpkg loop should fix it:
...
dbfiles="arch status diversions statoverride"
for db in $dbfiles ; do
[ -e $dbdir/$db ] || continue <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
...
Issue may exist elsewhere, but is observed in:
$ dpkg --version
Debian 'dpkg' package management program version 1.18.25 (armhf)
$ uname -a
Linux xxxxx 4.14.79-v7+ #1159 SMP Sun Nov 4 17:50:20 GMT 2018 armv7l
GNU/Linux
Raspberry PI3+
Rasbian Stretch Lite
