IsNil isn't quite the same as == nil, as this snippet shows:

// http://play.golang.org/p/huomslDZgw
package main

import "fmt"
import "reflect"

func main() {
        var i interface{}
        v := reflect.ValueOf(i)
        fmt.Println(v.IsValid(), i == nil)
        fmt.Println(v.IsNil())
}

The fact that IsNil panics if you call it with an untyped nil
was not apparent. Verbiage added for clarity.

LGTM=rsc
R=rsc
CC=golang-codereviews
https://golang.org/cl/65480043