Why is pylaucher in Python 3.3 being installed in Windows folder?

[Chris Rebert]

On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 8:21 PM, Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 8:04 PM, Steven D'Aprano
> <steve+comp.lang.python at pearwood.info> wrote:
>> On Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:13:10 -0700, Piotr Dobrogost wrote:
>>
>>> Why is pylauncher in Python 3.3 being installed in Windows folder and
>>> not in Program Files folder? Installing into Windows folder was maybe
>>> acceptable 10 years ago but not now...
>>
>> Read the PEP:
>>
>> http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0397/
>
> The PEP explains why it's in the Windows folder as opposed to the
> System32 folder, but not why either of those locations should be
> preferable to Program Files.

Presumably because Program Files isn't part of the $PATH.
http://superuser.com/questions/124239/what-is-the-default-path-environment-variable-setting-on-fresh-install-of-window
Contrast (from the PEP): "However, the Windows directory is always on the path."

Now, as for why the launcher must be on the $PATH…*shrugs*

Cheers,
Chris