How does zen_set_field_length() work?

[TheOracle]

Thus, the use of the zen_set_field_length() function would usually not be encouraged for form fields related to TEXT database fields.

Strange. From includes/templates/template_default/tpl_account_edit_default.php file, I found this result (originally from the downloaded package - unmodified):

<?php echo zen_draw_input_field('customers_referral', '', zen_set_field_length(TABLE_CUSTOMERS, 'customers_referral', 15), 'id="customers-referral"'); ?>

The zen_set_field_length is actually used with the zen_draw_input_field function. I have received a PM regarding this page, also, particularly (which has this reported problem). If I understand correctly, these two functions should not be related together ? If not, what would be the proper replacement ?

Then, from admin/includes/modules/document_product/collect_info_metatags.php file, I found this result:

<?php echo zen_draw_input_field('metatags_title[' . $languages[$i]['id'] . ']', (isset($metatags_title[$languages[$i]['id']]) ? stripslashes($metatags_title[$languages[$i]['id']]) : zen_get_metatags_title($pInfo->products_id, $languages[$i]['id'])), zen_set_field_length(TABLE_META_TAGS_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION, 'metatags_title', '150', false)); //,'id="'.'metatags_title' . $languages[$i]['id'] . '"');?>

From includes/templates/template_default/tpl_password_forgotten_default.php file, I found this result:

<?php echo zen_draw_input_field('email_address', '', zen_set_field_length(TABLE_CUSTOMERS, 'customers_email_address', '40') . ' id="email-address"') . '&nbsp;' . (zen_not_null(ENTRY_EMAIL_ADDRESS_TEXT) ? '<span class="alert">' . ENTRY_EMAIL_ADDRESS_TEXT . '</span>': ''); ?>

Would these, also, require modifications ?