Python: why str.join(iterable) instead of str.join(*strings)
<p>I'm constantly wrapping my str.join() arguments in a list, e.g.</p>

<pre><code>'.'.join([str_one, str_two])
</code></pre>

<p>The extra list wrapper always seems superfluous to me.  I'd like to do...</p>

<pre><code>'.'.join(str_one, str_two, str_three, ...)
</code></pre>

<p>... or if I have a list ...</p>

<pre><code>'.'.join(*list_of_strings)
</code></pre>

<p>Yes I'm a minimalist, yes I'm picky, but mostly I'm just curious about the history here, or whether I'm missing something.  Maybe there was a time before splats?</p>

<p>Edit:</p>

<p>I'd just like to note that max() handles both versions:</p>

<p>max(iterable[, key])
max(arg1, arg2, *args[, key])</p>
