It looks likely that the lisp-style functions in Python such as map() will be removed, (along with lambda). The arguments for doing this seem to come down to two things: that you can use list comprehensions to provide the same functionality, and, that people don't like Lispisms (ie introducing them into Python way back when was a mistake that needs to be rectified). Various incidental arguments around speed also come up, but they don't matter. I never fully understood the excitement around list comps when they were introduced. I suspect that because you can see just enough of the innards, a list comp is impressive, a bit like having a glass hood over a car engine or a perspex kettle. On the other hand , map() is opaque, even dull. I imagine I like the map() approach because functions tend to nest and compose more elegantly than extra syntax. Removing top-level functions like map() from Python in favor of list comps fees like a step backwards. I don't see is how this: mods = [__import__(mod) for mod in testmodules] is ever going to be more elegant than this: mods = map(__import__, testmodules)...
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