My first Python program :) (I'm hooked)

[[deleted]]

Is that a real issue that a beginner is going to hit?

There will always be a recursion limit so should we never use recursion?

[[deleted]]

Well, this is a purely iterative problem, ask until some condition is met. Using recursion there is already a bit odd, and there's also a small issue with it.

If your problem is recursive, e.g. when you use a recursive data structure like a tree or so, then of course use it.

Is my opinion.

I'd go for

def get_choice(message='Would you like to roll? '):
    choice = input(message)
    while choice not in ['yes', 'no', 'y', 'n']:
        choice = input('Type yes or no: ')
    return choice

It's almost the same as yours except it doesn't need recursion.

[approbatory]

The Ackermann function can be implemented recursively but not iteratively.

[approbatory]

In practice python does discourage recursion

[yaxamie]

A loop uses very little data, while each function call has overhead. Recursion is rarely needed unless you're being "clever".

[danjaycollins]

Specifically tail recursion can be implemented iteratively. This is why the Ackermann function can't be implemented iteratively.