default locale considered harmful? (was Re: Using index for "like 'ABC%'" type query)

Andrew Sullivan <andrew@libertyrms.info> writes:
>> [ can't LIKE use an index? ]

> Yes.  But locale is enabled by default now, and if you use anything
> other than C (and other-than-C is increasingly the default on the
> supported platforms), it won't work.  Just make sure that your locale
> is C when you do initdb.

I recall someone floating a proposal that initdb should by default
initialize the database in C locale, not whatever-it-finds-in-the-
environment.  To get a non-C locale you'd have to give an explicit
command-line switch --- essentially, reversing the sense of the present
"initdb --no-locale" option.

I'm beginning to think that would be a good idea, given the increasing
prevalence of en_US as a platform locale setting.  Comments?

            regards, tom lane