My update with email failed so I am just copying my response here:

>  while working on the patch to add the same feature in rmtree, I realized
>  this is a non sense since the root folder itself is removed at the end
>  of the function when all its content is removed.

Indeed. Sorry about that.

>  So, unless we change this behavior, which I doubt it is a good idea, it
>  won't be possible.

I agree. But in general, it would be nice to separate file list
generation and the actual operation. Something similar to shell where
it resolves the pattern while the actual command itself cares only
about the files passed to it. This is not necessarily a comment on
this patch which I am hoping I can check it out soon.