Why I Still Favor Ruby Over Python

Recently the Python programming language was listed in the TIOBE Programming Community Index for January 2011 as having the most growth in new users. (Of course that wouldn't be because Google's free AppEngine runs only Python or Java apps -- thank goodness for jRuby allowing Ruby to run natively on Java and thus AppEngine.) And a swift congrats to them.

That said, I did want to add a very quick list of reasons why I still prefer Ruby over Python.

1. The most compelling reason for me is Ruby's distribution system for new software via Rubygems. It's as simple as 'gem install NameOfGem' and all the dependencies and requirements are installed for you. And if you want to update: 'gem update'. Additionally, developing your own Gem for packaging your new software for distribution is as easy as 'gem build' to create your gem, followed by 'gem push' to make it available for everyone in the world.
2. The second reason is a bit more touchy-feely and non-empirical. In general I prefer the 'vibe' of elegance/simplicity in Ruby and the Ruby community/software over the seeming brutishness of Python and 'useful' hackerish things I can do to make stuff work and/or figure out what is what. To me it is sort of like 'Mac vs PC' which may explain why there are so many Mac users at the Seattle Ruby Brigade meetings. Though Ruby works just as well on all platforms in my experience.
3. Three, since I am largely a web-app guy who is often having to expose services in a friendly way over the web (API's), I love that the Ruby community continues to stay remarkably innovative with frameworks like Rails and Sinatra, Rack, etc. that make creating/maintaining these complex entities MUCH easier.
4. Last, developing robust command-line tools is uber-easy with Ruby tools like Thor
   

Of course, the back and forth between Pythonists and Rubyists leaves one to wonder... are Rubyists cat people... or dog people?