ENH: Plan the scipy.sparse matrix-to-array migration #879

Problem

markov/core.py, markov/ddp.py, markov/random.py, _graph_tools.py, and game_theory/localint.py are written against scipy.sparse matrix classes (csr_matrix, coo_matrix). SciPy's announced direction is sparse arrays; the matrix classes — whose semantics rest on np.matrix, itself slated for removal — are on the way out. Our dependence is behavioral, not just nominal: markov/core.py:201 comments that row_sums is np.matrix (ndim=2) and the surrounding reduction code relies on that quirk. And it is user-visible: public APIs accept and return these types (MarkovChain docstrings advertise scipy.sparse.csr_matrix).

Proposed change (staged)

1. Now: accept both matrix and array inputs everywhere (sp.issparse already covers both); add a test leg that feeds csr_array inputs through MarkovChain / DiscreteDP.
2. Next minor: convert internals to array semantics (explicit-axis reductions replacing np.matrix-shaped sums — removes the core.py:201 reliance).
3. Announced release: switch sparse return types to arrays with a changelog notice and, if warranted, a one-release FutureWarning on the affected attributes.

Acceptance criteria

• Suite green under sparse-array inputs end-to-end
• No internal reliance on np.matrix semantics
• Return-type change announced before it ships

From the July 2026 technical-debt audit (AI-assisted; claims verified against 28d4b3b on 2026-07-25).