keyword is "preferably". Also "Simple is better than complex", "practicality beats purity" and "Readability counts". The zen is not the bible, you don't get t

keyword is "preferably". Also "Simple is better than complex", "practicality beats purity" and "Readability counts". The zen is not the bible, you don't get to cherrypick the stuff you want to make your case. Plus, they are just guide lines, in the end, you have a debate in the python dev mailing list with reasonable people making their case.