Greetings, Congratulations that Debian *does* load and run Intel elf executables *without* Section Headers. That is, Debian does follow Intel elf specs that Section Headers are needed only to make a file linkable, but *not* necessary for load and run.
How do I know? I'm using a Debian box to test elf files for my Linux version of the HotBasic compiler. They all run on Debian as shown by the demos in hotlinux.zip (Hotbasic > Downloads > Trial and Registered Versions > HotBasic Core > hotlinux.zip). Now... Red Hat and Gentoo have a "Section Header bug" -- elf files without Section Headers will not load and run. This is an important bug for those versions of Linux -- what if one does not want their files to be linkable? No can do on Red Hat and Gentoo, until they fix their bug. So... Keep Debian as the "real Linux" -- follows Intel elf specs! Cordially, James Keene, PhD, HotBasic Compiler author.