I feel proponents of any programming language put a lot of spin around what isolated aspects it is good for, but fail to illustrate what a programmer in even one target domain gains from using it.
Are there programming language implementations unlike what is described above, that you feel back up their marketing?
Python as glue is absolutely a use. The big advantage of Python is that it also has a broad range of use and expands what a single developer can do in cases where time and cost of development is more important then code efficiencey and long term support. Basically quick often throwaway apps to get something done.
Edit: Python is a good alternative to say tcl, perl, R, matlab, VB, etc.
Of course. Its in the same category as Ruby and Lua. Hence the question on “getting out of the way”, which Lua is much better at and which Ruby surpasses by also making programming easier. But Python was first at surpassing even Perl at growing library bindings.
Yes. History and adoption matter.