[Numpy-discussion] array vs. matrix for matlab-compatible stuff

[Sven Schreiber]

Hi,
I've spent a couple of weeks with scipy/numpy and the old-to-new transition; now that the transition 
is over (?) but some confusion is remaining (on my side) I feel the need to ask a basic question 
about matlab compatibility in terms of matrix (linear algebra) programming.

Take "eye" and "identity" for example; given that "eye" supposedly exists to facilitate transiton 
from matlab to numpy/scipy (correct?), I expected eye to be/return a matrix.

However (as you guys know better than I do), it's not a matrix:

 >>> import numpy
 >>> type(numpy.eye(2))
<type 'numpy.ndarray'>
 >>> type(numpy.identity(2))
<type 'numpy.ndarray'>
 >>> type(numpy.mat(numpy.eye(2)))
<class 'numpy.core.defmatrix.matrix'>

Why is that so? There doesn't seem to be any value added of eye over identity, and the downside is 
inconvenience of having to explicitly convert those arrays to matrices (to use them in 
multiplication, inverting them, avoid unexpected broadcasting behavior if I mistakenly write down a 
non-defined matrix product etc.).

Surely I'm missing something here, but what?

Thanks for your help,
Sven