Benefit of modules (was: Re: Beware of modules.)

Olivier Galibert <galibert(a)pobox.com&gt; writes: I think the largest benefit of modules is social, not technical. With modules, the (percieved) step from adding Lisp level enhancements to adding C level enhancements becomes much smaller. The step from adding (and maintaining) a C module to adding core functionality is also smaller than the step from adding (and maintaining) a Lisp package to adding core functionality. So adding modules should mean a larger recruitment of volunteers who are willing to work below the Lisp level.