> I can fill separate bug for packaging, server certificate validation
> and support for non-SSL builds of python (for which there is
> workaround with upload -r <server> option that I've just discovered),
> but it is an additional delay and the only reason I invested some
> time into this issue is because I saw RC announcements.

This effort was wasted - there is zero chance that this can go into
a release candidate. Only fundamental flaws (such as being unable to
compile Python on a major platform, or serious regressions) should be
considered for changes between a rc and the final release.