Why avoid while loops?
<p>I'm about 2 weeks deep in my study of Python as an introductory language.  I've hit a point in Zed's <em>"Learn Python the Hard Way"</em> where he suggests:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Use a while-loop only to loop forever, and that means probably never.  This only applies
      to Python, other languages are different.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I've googled all over this, referenced everything I can, but I can't find any reason in the world why this would be a convention in Python.  What makes it different? </p>

<p>When I gave up programming 10 years ago, I was working in VB and would regularly be told to get rid of my For loops and use While loops instead.  I was a hack (as I am today, though I wrote a LOT of code back then), so I just did what I was told without questioning it.  Well, now I'm questioning it.  Is this a speed issue?  Is it just to avoid escape-less infinites?</p>
