[Python-Dev] The Trick

[Guido van Rossum]

I don't like the trick of avoiding the copy if the refcount is one;
AFAIK it can't be done in Jython.

I think the application area is too narrow to warrant a built-in,
*and* lists shouldn't grow two similar methods.  Let's keep the
language small!

(I know, by that argument several built-ins shouldn't exist.  Well,
they might be withdrawn in 3.0; let's not add more.)

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)