Description of problem:
When passing a directory string including leading-slash to vim (e.g. '$ vim /etc/') should open a directory listing provided by the Netrw plugin.
Instead vim states "Illegal file name" and fails to open a directory listing

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
7.4.160-1.el7

How reproducible:
Every time

Steps to Reproduce:
1. With at least the below packages installed:
vim-common.x86_64                       2:7.4.160-1.el7                @base
vim-enhanced.x86_64                     2:7.4.160-1.el7                @base
vim-filesystem.x86_64                   2:7.4.160-1.el7                @base
vim-minimal.x86_64                      2:7.4.160-1.el7                @anaconda

Create a simple directory with files:

$ mkdir ~/testvim
$ touch ~/testvim/somefiles{1..5}

2. Attempt to open the ~/testvim directory for browsing within vim

$ vim ~/testvim/

Returns the error:
"~/testvim/" Illegal file name

The Netrw browsing panel is NOT presented.

3. Attempt without a leading slash WILL work:

$ cd ~/
$ vim testvim/

The Netrw browsing panel IS presented showing the five files

Actual results:
Netrw directory browser is NOT shown


Expected results:
Netrw directory browser IS shown

Additional info:
Also present in Fedora release 20 (Heisenbug) (F21 untested)