<iostream> now part of the libstdc++ binary

[Howard Hinnant <hhinnant at apple dot com>]

Hello,

I was wondering if there was a rationale somewhere for http:// 
gcc.gnu.org/ml/libstdc++-cvs/2006-q1/msg00049.html .

This patch modifies 4.1 to #include <iostream> into itself.  The  
inclusion of <iostream> is unique in libstdc++ sources and prior to  
4.1 not done (well, only checked 4.0, not sure about 3.x).   
<iostream> is the only C++ header which adds a run time cost just by  
its inclusion, by adding a static ios_base::Init object to the  
translation unit.  The construction of this static is what  
initializes the terminal streams: cin, cout, cerr, clog, wcin, wcout,  
wcerr, wclog.  This appears to mean that now every client (which  
links to libstdc++) has these streams initialized whether or not they  
use them or want them.

This was introduced so quietly that I'm wondering:

1.  Is it considered to just not be that big of a deal.
2.  There was a discussion, but I just can't find it.
3.  It was an unintended mistake.

Any insights or pointers appreciated.

Thanks,
Howard