Sony warranty repair: why erase all my settings if you're just fixing the grip?

How long do the settings stay in camera after the battery is out?

I understand that they're not stored in flash memory but in some sort of internal battery/capacitor backed up memory which is why some people experience problems with settings when the camera is new.

So I'm wondering if the settings are lost due to removing the main battery for an extended period of time while it's sent in for service.

Just a thought...no basis in fact.....just putting it out there.