diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/NBConfiguration.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/NBConfiguration.java
index b089c2ef3..c3b4770bb 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/NBConfiguration.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/NBConfiguration.java
@@ -74,8 +74,9 @@ public class NBConfiguration {
         if (param==null) {
             throw new NBConfigError("Parameter named '" + name + "' is not valid for " + model.getOf().getSimpleName() + ".");
         }
-        if (!param.isRequired()) {
-            throw new NBConfigError("Non-optional get on parameter declared optional '" + name + "'");
+        if ((!param.isRequired())&&param.getDefaultValue()==null) {
+            throw new RuntimeException("Non-optional get on optional parameter " + name + "' which has no default value while configuring " + model.getOf() + "." +
+                "\nTo avoid user impact, ensure that ConfigModel and NBConfigurable usage are aligned.");
         }
 
         Object o = data.get(name);
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/Param.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/Param.java
index 5654b7770..79f3dae83 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/Param.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/Param.java
@@ -77,12 +77,28 @@ public class Param<T> {
         return new Param<V>(List.of(name), type, null, false, null);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Parameters which are given a default value are automatically marked as required, as the default
+     * value allows them to be accessed as such.
+     * @param name
+     * @param defaultValue
+     * @param <V>
+     * @return
+     */
     public static <V> Param<V> defaultTo(String name, V defaultValue) {
-        return new Param<V>(List.of(name), (Class<V>) defaultValue.getClass(), null, false, null);
+        return new Param<V>(List.of(name), (Class<V>) defaultValue.getClass(), null, true, defaultValue);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Parameters which are given a default value are automatically marked as required, as the default
+     * value allows them to be accessed as such.
+     * @param names
+     * @param defaultValue
+     * @param <V>
+     * @return
+     */
     public static <V> Param<V> defaultTo(List<String> names, V defaultValue) {
-        return new Param<V>(names, (Class<V>) defaultValue.getClass(), null, false, null);
+        return new Param<V>(names, (Class<V>) defaultValue.getClass(), null, true, defaultValue);
     }
 
     public static <V> Param<V> required(String name, Class<V> type) {
diff --git a/nb/pom.xml b/nb/pom.xml
index 1c0742bfb..ff98f15be 100644
--- a/nb/pom.xml
+++ b/nb/pom.xml
@@ -93,18 +93,6 @@
             <version>4.15.52-SNAPSHOT</version>
         </dependency>
 
-        <dependency>
-            <groupId>io.nosqlbench</groupId>
-            <artifactId>driver-dsegraph-shaded</artifactId>
-            <version>4.15.52-SNAPSHOT</version>
-        </dependency>
-
-        <dependency>
-            <groupId>io.nosqlbench</groupId>
-            <artifactId>driver-cql-shaded</artifactId>
-            <version>4.15.52-SNAPSHOT</version>
-        </dependency>
-
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.nosqlbench</groupId>
             <artifactId>driver-cqld3-shaded</artifactId>
@@ -222,6 +210,32 @@
     </build>
 
     <profiles>
+        <profile>
+            <id>with-dsegraph-d1</id>
+            <activation>
+                <activeByDefault>true</activeByDefault>
+            </activation>
+            <dependencies>
+                <dependency>
+                    <groupId>io.nosqlbench</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>driver-dsegraph-shaded</artifactId>
+                    <version>4.15.52-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                </dependency>
+            </dependencies>
+        </profile>
+        <profile>
+            <id>with-cql-d1</id>
+            <activation>
+                <activeByDefault>true</activeByDefault>
+            </activation>
+            <dependencies>
+                <dependency>
+                    <groupId>io.nosqlbench</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>driver-cql-shaded</artifactId>
+                    <version>4.15.52-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                </dependency>
+            </dependencies>
+        </profile>
         <profile>
             <id>with-cql-d4</id>
             <activation>