Re: Execution speed...
There are millions of EUCs in excel/VBA that never need to get in front of an "experienced programmer".
Python is filling a similar niche for people with more specialised number crunching requirements. In terms of hyperbole it's solving a smaller set of problems than the spreadsheet but it's solving them exceptionally well...
This is actually a super-happy story in that we've actually managed to grow some combination of language and tooling that people want to use!