macOS: Is /etc/fstab file deprecated? What is the recommended config file then?
afaik, fstab doesn't exist by default. You have to create one, first time.

From your linked instructions...


  7) Edit (or create) an fstab file by typing the following and pressing enter:
       sudo vifs


Will do precisely that, edit - or create - an fstab file.
Once you've got it set up, it ought to work as expected. I have mine set with ACLs so it will let me edit it without jumping through hoops every time. iirc, by default it's set to root/wheel.

fstab.hd seems to be a red herring, but no amount of Googling has turned up what it is or was used for :/