Less sucky?

less-sucky.php

<?php

// option 1
$config['admin']['example'] = array(
	'table' => 'tbl_example',
	'name' => 'Example',
	'fields' => array(
		'field_1' => 'Field 1 Title', 
		'field_2' => 'Field 2 Title', 
		'field_3' => 'Field 3 Title'
	),
	'view_only' => array(
		'field_3'
	),
	'permissions' => array(
		'edit', 
		'delete'
	)
);

// Option 2
$config['admin']['example']['table']       = 'tbl_example';
$config['admin']['example']['name']        = 'Example';
$config['admin']['example']['fields']      = array('field_1' => 'Field 1 Title', 'field_2' => 'Field 2 Title');
$config['admin']['example']['view_only']   = array('field_3');
$config['admin']['example']['permissions'] = array('edit', 'delete');