CB

Using getField with output as php and if returned result is an array to shift off the first value. Only 1 value is provided as php output gives array( $name => $value ). This results in an API driven raw value.

Rev1 offers a backup. If getField doesn't return a value then it'll check if a value exists directly in user object (first checking if that field is even in the user object). This ensures the IF statement trys its best to get the field value as API driven allows a plugin or privacy for example to result in an empty value. Recommending Rev1.

Implemented in r1524 slightly differently than proposed, and using a new API parameter for getField() method, allowing to access all fields, irrespectively of not-on-profile or other settings, which makes sense in an admin-provided if-statement.