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Looking for input from everyone, particularly those with more in-depth
Python knowledge.

In Cinder for some time we have been trying to enforce using () or
reformatting code to avoid using \ to have statements span multiple
lines. I'm not sure when this actually started, but I think it may
be one of those things where someone got a review disagreement, so
then that person started downvoting on it, then the next person, etc.

I've seen some allusions to the use of \ having some issues, but I
can't find any concrete examples where this can cause problems. I do
seem to remember trying to write a hacking check or a code parsing
tool to do something that choked on these, but it's long enough ago
that I don't remember the details, and I could very well be mixing
that up with something else.

So my question is - is there a technical reason for enforcing this
rule, or is this just a bad downvote that's gotten out of control?

Thanks!

Sean