> Is there a new feature, not a bugfix?

There's an ongoing argument about that on the python-dev thread. :-)  But yes, I think this needs a doc update---even if it's considered a bugfix, the current docs could be clarified.

http://docs.python.org/dev/reference/datamodel.html?highlight=__complex__#object.__complex__

says

"Should return a value of the appropriate type."  My interpretation of that is that __int__ should return an int, __float__ a float, __complex__ a complex number;  with this change, that interpretation no longer works.

I'll update the patch (and add a Misc/NEWS entry, too).

Thanks!