Sometime I wonder when created and changed .htaccess in my box doesn’t have any effect at all.
The only realiazed ..

Because there is a line in /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf


AllowOverride None

.. commented out that line..
or change is to

AllowOverride All

then only .htaccess setting will work.

this also apply for wordpress redirection part for
permanent link or some sort of other auth part defined in .htaccess..

Basically affect everything that defined in .htaccess.

Recommended to have different directory section setting for each folder instead of
the whole Document root folder /

Remember to restart the webserver (httpd process) whenever changing /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf config file.. 8-)