An advantage of the @ syntax is than it makes the complexiity separable and ignorable for someone learning/teaching basic Python,
I don't agree that they are ignorable. People will see them in code and will *have* to understand what they mean. Given sme examples I've seen here, this will sometimes be a significant chalenge.
There are a number of "advanced" features in python that could be a barrier to understanding for new users, but which are rarely seen in practice - metaclasses being the classic example. I imagine these features are rarely seen because most people don't understand them, and those that do have the good taste not to use them gratuitously. -- Andrew McNamara, Senior Developer, Object Craft http://www.object-craft.com.au/