There are several issues at hand here, Phillip.  I'll enumerate them below.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know about this.  However, I'm closing this issue since realistically the behavior of imp.find_module() isn't going to change, particularly in Python 2.7.  Even though the issue is closed, feel free to reply, particularly about how you are using imp.find_module() (we may be able to point you toward how to use importlib instead).

Also, I've changed this issue's type to "enhancement".  imp.find_module() is working as designed, so what you are looking for is a feature request.  Consequently there's a much higher bar for justifying a change.  Here are reasons why the requested change doesn't reach that bar:

1. Python 2.7 is closed to new features.

So imp.find_module() is not going to change.

2. Python 2.7 is nearing EOL.

We highly recommend that everyone move to Python 3 as soon as possible.  Hopefully you are in a position to do so.  If you're stuck on Python 2.7 then you miss the advantages of importlib, along with a ton of other benefits.

If you are not going to be able to migrate before 2020 then send an email to python-list@python.org asking for recommendations on what to do.

3. Starting in Python 3.4, using the imp module is discouraged/deprecated.

  "Deprecated since version 3.4: The imp package is pending deprecation in favor of importlib." [1]

The importlib package should have everything you need.  What are you using imp.find_module() for?  We should be able to demonstrate the equivalent using importlib.

4. The import machinery is designed around using a list (the builtin type, not the concept) for the "module search path".

* imp.find_module(): "the list of directory names given by sys.path is searched" [2]
* imp.find_module(): "Otherwise, path must be a list of directory names" [2]
* importlib.find_loader() (deprecated): "optionally within the specified path" (which defaults to sys.path) [3]
* importlib.util.find_spec(): doesn't even have a "path" parameter [4]
* ModuleSpec.submodule_search_locations: "List of strings for where to find submodules" [5]
* sys.path: "A list of strings that specifies the search path for modules. ... Only strings and bytes should be added to sys.path; all other data types are ignored during import." [6]


[1] https://docs.python.org/3/library/imp.html#module-imp
[2] https://docs.python.org/3/library/imp.html#imp.find_module
[3] https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#importlib.find_loader
[4] https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#importlib.util.find_spec
[5] https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#importlib.machinery.ModuleSpec.submodule_search_locations
[6] https://docs.python.org/3/library/sys.html#sys.path