* This is not a feature request;
  this is a bug fix for errant behavior.

  However, in the interest of civility, I have not re-opened this issue.

* > Python 2.7 DOES NOT support filesystem semantics that differ
  > from the "default" semantics for the host operating system.

  That statement makes no sense; the decisions being made here
  are based on nonsense.

* > folks that really want the behaviour you propose may upgrade to Python 3

  Ah. I'm getting the distinct impression that this is a political
  matter, rather than a technical matter.

  No wonder the responses have been incomprehensible.

  Here's an idea that echos your own: If you wish to pursue this outcome
  further, please take it to the issue tracker for your preferred Linux
  distribution and convince *them* that all the software they provide
  should be ported to Python 3. If multiple Linux distributions agree
  that it is no longer valuable to support Python 2, then that will add
  weight to your argument that there is little reason to fix its bugs,
  and that Python 3 is actually useful.