Your sarcasm was not lost on me; however, it does go without saying. It is well known that higher level programming languages have a tendency to add their own little nuances that when compiled to machine language can contribute to less optimal code. The effects can be negligible or they can be significant. It all depends on the programmer's mastery and understanding of the used language in order to minimize the potential effects.

I do generally agree with your statement and as kano pointed out "maintainability" is a major factor especially when dealing with larger and more complex programs. Do not confuse me with those individuals that ride the python hate train. I happen to like python personally and I use it frequently.