title: Explain to me what the big deal with tail call optimization is and why Python needs it
body: <p>So apparently, there's been a big brouhaha over whether or not Python needs tail call optimization.  This came to a head when someone <a href="http://drj11.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/python-tail-call-optimisation/" rel="noreferrer">shipped Guido a copy of SICP</a> because he didn't "get it."  I'm in the same boat as Guido.  I understand the concept of tail call optimization.  I just can't think of any reason why Python really <em>needs</em> it.</p>
  
  <p>To make this easier for me to understand, could someone give me a snippet of code that would be greatly simplified using TCO?</p>