A variable name has never referred to the value of it in expressions where it is being assigned. In 'def f(a,b,c)' or '(a,*_) = x' the term 'a' doesn't refer to

A variable name has never referred to the value of it in expressions where it is being assigned. In 'def f(a,b,c)' or '(a,*_) = x' the term 'a' doesn't refer to the value of a either. A match statement in this sense is just an assignment that has a graceful failing mechanism (rather than e.g. '(a,*_) = x' which throws for empty lists). And I think the ship on '|' has sailed with the dictionaries.