These Environment settings all effect the output of raster calculator. You can set environments before running raster calculator:
Cell Size, Current Workspace, Mask, Output Coordinate System, Extent, Scratch Workspace, Snap Raster
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.2/index.html#//001w00000034000000
Your workaround sounds like a normal approach. The basic concept for geoprocessing is input> tool> output. Moat often they way to 'change' data is to process it into a new form.
Mike Ballard, Professor
Geographic Information Systems
Algonquin College
http://lyceum.algonquincollege.com/roomfinder/index.html?poi=t336b
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