Here's what it does...
It sets up a user account. It assumes that will be the primary user (but IIRC, it also lets you set up more than one user.)
The root account is not disabled.
The system sets you up as an "sudoer" (look in /etc/sudoers.) With that privilege, if you need to act as root for something (like upgrading packages), you are expected to sudo su -. Because you're a member in good standing of sudoers, you are required to type in your password. This way, the root password is never needed. Note: This works the same even on systems with a real root password -- users who are sudoers need to enter their own password to do a sudo <anything>
-YendorMike
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania