abbreviated commands

Has there been discussion of adding abbreviated command names to git? It would be nice to be able to type the standard abbreviations used by many vcs, for example:

ci -> commit co -> checkout

I searched the mailing list archives but didn't see anything so I 
figured I'd ask.  It would be nice.  Also allowing the shortest uniquely 
  matching command string rather than having to type the whole thing 
would be nice.  (I know, if you do git-foo<tab> it would be the same 
thing, but if the goal is to have git <command> be the standard usage 
these things would be great.)

Thanks for the great system.

-Jeff