Some minor code edits to be pulled—quick help wanted #642

=========================== short test summary info ============================
SKIPPED [1] control/tests/matlab2_test.py:204: skipping test_check_convert_shape, need to update test
SKIPPED [1] control/tests/matlab2_test.py:275: need to update test
SKIPPED [4] control/tests/timeresp_test.py:419: test system does not settle
SKIPPED [6] control/tests/timeresp_test.py:876: No continuous forced_response without time vector.
SKIPPED [1] control/tests/type_conversion_test.py:162: future test; conversions not yet fully implemented
SKIPPED [2] control/tests/xferfcn_test.py:742: .__matmul__ not implemented
XFAIL control/tests/lti_test.py::TestLTI::test_timebaseEqual_deprecated[None-True-True]
  returns false
XFAIL control/tests/optimal_test.py::test_discrete_lqr
  reason: discrete LQR not implemented
XFAIL control/tests/statefbk_test.py::TestStatefbk::testLQR_warning
  warning not implemented
============ 2740 passed, 15 skipped, 3 xfailed in 93.12s (0:01:33) ============