This is not actually an absolute equivalence! Using an if statement would make your remote look like this:
on *:TEXT:*:*:{
(or something like this anyway - with a '*' for wildmask)
This however would prevent other on text remotes placed under it to run! There are ways through that but some people find it convenient to use a lot of on text events one under the other with different wildmasks, levels or channels.
I agree with starbucks_mafia's suggestions.
