scummvm/scummvm — comment on commit 8e79608a1de77c54cc6bf0eb23b32b1cc3175677
File:  line 0
By tramboi:

The use of List:
The _frame array was a fixed size struct allocator, now we have malloc/free for each node, and two additional pointers (one unused) per item + the malloc overhead.
Granted we have better *asymptotic* performance on insertion. But we have weaker performance on iteration and removal. Do we have better real performance on insertion? With max 16 entries? Doubtful considering the pointer walking.
More code and more fragmentation too.

Messy unused entry:
You call it messy, and this is the debatable point.
What do you think the general allocator does for freed small objects? It keeps a pool of "messy unused entries".
Common::MemoryPool (which it is a simplified case in fact) too.