/local was designed for local plugins that you never intend to distribute, and where you don't need to worry about namespace clashes with core code. We can never distribute plugins in this location.

It's not meant to be the generic plugin place, but unfortunately a lot of people are starting to see it that way, see https://moodle.org/plugins/browse.php?list=category&id=18

I think we need to decide one of the following:
A. Create a new plugin place (eg /general, /other or /plugin) and leave /local clean as intended, or
B. Re-define /local once and for all and live with the silly name

Discussion and/or votes?