performance of tuple-less Python?

[Gordon McMillan]

François Pinard wrote:

> "Greg Wilson" <gvwilson at nevex.com> writes:
> 
> > [...] the use of tuples (which I believe are conceptually
> > redundant) [...]
> 
> Tuples may be used to index within dictionaries, and I find this
> feature very useful.  Lists may not.  I do not know the
> implementation details, but would be tempted to have the
> prejudice (:-) that using lists to index would imply some severe
> performance penalty.

I'm guessing that not being able to find something you stuck 
in the dictionary qualifies as a performance penalty ;-).

To spell it out:
 1) hash based on id(list_object):
     d = {[1] = 'x'}
     d[[1]] -> KeyError
 2) hash based on value:
     lst = [1]
     d[lst] = 'x'
     lst.append(2)
     d[lst] -> KeyError




- Gordon