The only pattern I see here is that the TIP forum is being used as a general discussion forum. Was this ever discussed on either of the other two more appropriate forums? Not everyone subscribes to the TIP forum, and this discussion is very far from becoming a concrete recommendation. One TIP would be changing template::util::url_to_file. This one idea may cause changes, or at least review of every public and private package. Anyway my main point is not for or against the idea, but with the use of the TIP forum before any discussion on one of the other forums. When the TIP forum is used it divides the participants into two classes: those that can approve and those who cannot.
