The reason python is a mess is because it became the default for academics and data scientists who have no real interest in code quality or maintainability and the rot just spread from there.
I've done a few Ruby/C and Python/C bindings, the APIs are worlds apart: I'd say Ruby's is like afternoon cocktails with a cultivated Swedish philosopher, Python's is the aftermath of a bar-room brawl where broken bottles were used.
The reason python is a mess is because it became the default for academics and data scientists who have no real interest in code quality or maintainability and the rot just spread from there.