An ordered dictionary for the Python library?

[Mark Summerfield]

I feel that Python lacks one useful data structure: an ordered
dictionary.

I find such data structures v. useful in C++. I know that in Python
the sort function is v. fast, but often I prefer never to sort but
simply to use an ordered data structure in the first place.
(I'm aware that for ordered lists I can use the bisect module, but I
want an ordered key-value data structure.)

I think other people must find such things useful. There are three
implementations on the Python Cookbook site, and one on PyPI, all in
pure Python (plus I have my own implementation, also pure Python).

I would suppose that it would be better if it was implemented in C---
for example, my own pure Python ordered dict loads data about eight
times slower than the built-in dict. Nonetheless, I still find it
worth using for the convenience it offers.

Do other Python programmers feel this lack? Is this worth a PEP?

[I originally asked about this on the P3K mailing list, but then
realised that it isn't version-specific really.]