Yes they are terrible and enthusiasts should use rechargeables. But for others, there are sane reasons to want to have a few alkaleaks on long term standby. Is the fridge better for this than room temperature? What about the freezer? Related: Countycomm’s 1C and 1D lights are on sale again. That is what prompted this question.
I don’t know if it affects all battery types, but when I’m doing astrophotography, I’ve been told to keep the spare batteries in an inside pocket as the cold stops them from lasting as long.
Cold will slow down the chemical reaction of the electrolyte. Which is also where the idea to refrigerate comes from.