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If they're adding features purely for the convenience of python shell users, how about, I don't know, remove the need for significant whitespace (by adding "end block" statement). Because Python shell is a major pain to use when you try to copy-paste some code into it and it doesn't like the indentation levels. On the other hand I can copy-paste whatever into my Lisp REPL and it will run just fine. Or allow several statements per lambda. Saving a few keystrokes writing ".format" doesn't even register on the same scale of annoyance.



I've been using Python heavily since about 2000.

Approximately 2.5 times since then has whitespace been a problem, and which I fixed in under 10 seconds each time. Yet, the readability gains from removal of block delimiters in that time frame is uncountable.

> Saving a few keystrokes writing ".format" doesn't even register on the same scale of annoyance

It isn't just .format, it is:

    .format(long_variable_name1=long_variable_name1, 
            long_variable_name2=long_variable_name2)
This is a huge win that should have happened long ago.


But you don't need to use long variable names in Python shell! Even one-letter vars are perfectly acceptable.


When I wrote "shell" I was thinking of interpolation of bash, etc.




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