[pvg]

The standard library in general encourages use of higher-order functions and concepts borrowed primarily from FPLs (see: comprehensions, map/reduce, sort, etc.) I could not imagine seeing them backtracking on this -- it only helps them to go further in that direction.

I don't think the standard library really 'encourages' this in a way that's different from most languages that support first class (rather than 'higher order') functions. If you consider python's evolution, its support for many common programming paradigms was somewhat haphazard and weak and developed over time, mostly pragmatically. OO has become stronger, the 80% use case of common functional idioms is covered by comprehensions, etc. Ill thought out features (e.g. terrible lambdas) have become de-emphasised. The choices are extensively document, even if not everyone cup of tea so it seems both glib and inaccurate to say (re: FP) 'it only helps them to go further in that direction'. How does it help them?