I think the author is way to generous to the PERL community and the drama of PERL 6. I think the toxicity that eventually led to Larry Wall bowing out is being replicated in Python and Guido leaving. I left PERL for Python in the mid-2000s because it was clear with the Parrot engine and other misguided notions by the PERL bullies that the PERL leadership was bent. Now that Guido is out it will be interesting to see how long Python retains its perch. I think the demise of PERL would have been vastly different if Larry Wall hadn't been forced out.