> However, even if you cannot agree that it is a good idea, can you
> explain to me how it is a BAD idea?  How can expanding object
> references to strings to all objects, using the same mechanism, be
> bad?

It is a bad idea because features have to be supported in the long-term,
which means more maintenance effort. So, basically, this is the same
reason we don't accept every feature request + patch that gets posted
to the tracker.

And, again, I think the string interning part is a good thing.