Bummer, missed a point because I overthought the question, figuring something so simple had to be a trick question.

I know of the AUTO_CREATE_STATISTICS settings. But this setting only affects creation of statistics for columns used in a predicate. When creating indexes, statistics will always be made, regardless of this setting. I though that this was the trick the author had in mind when asking the question.

(note to self: Remember, sometimes a question that seems simple, IS in fact simple...)