But that's what I'm saying, there are only three ways to break this behaviour:

1. Changing the wheel format in such a way that we drop support for being able to install simple wheel files without a specialised installer
2. Break zipimport itself to explicitly disallow wheel files
3. Switch to a zipimport incompatible compression scheme

The first two aren't going to happen, which leaves only the third.

You appear to be saying that you would like to reserve the right to switch to a zipimport incompatible compression format in future versions of the wheel spec. If you're *not* saying that, then what independent design decision is there to be discussed that makes the new FAQ anything other than a clarification of the status quo? The rest of the behaviour is inherent in the "no specialised installer needed" feature.

People saying "I didn't realise that the current design implied zipimport compatibility" is *why* I added the clarification, so it's not a compelling argument in convincing me that the clarification wasn't needed or is inappropriate.

Regards,
Nick.