So just to weigh in on this, I think "meta path finder" and "path entry finder" (as Barry stated in the glossary already) clearly delineate what is from sys.meta_path and what is from some path entry hook by having a clarifying word to go with "finder" (either kind of finder is still trying to find a loader). Finder/loader/importer has history in terms of usage so we can't muck with these terms too much.

This does mean, though, that PathFinder and FileFinder are misnamed. Unfortunately PathFinder existed in previous versions of Python, so it will need an alias to its old name from a new name (PathImporter as Barry wants or MetaPathEntryFinder?). But FileFinder is new, so that can be renamed to FilePathEntryFinder (or FileEntryFinder). And of course WindowsRegistryImporter should be changed to *Finder.

I think if we harp on the "meta path" vs. "path entry" and use it consistently and extensively then the finder/loader/importer terminology does not need to change meaning and we don't have to misuse it for path importer to classify PathFinder while keeping the rest of Barry's terms intact which make it obvious when something is directly because of how import works vs. just a single meta path finder that happens to be what nearly everyone ends up using to handle their imports.