I like PHP just fine, but what you just did there, was compare a language--bundled with apache even--and compared it to 2 frameworks.
It's just as easy to get mod_python working as it is mod_php.
It's just as easy to get mod_python working as it is mod_php.
Compare that to getting CodeIgniter up and running: SFTP the files into the server, and you're up. No server configuration needed.
One could argue that this is not a feature of PHP itself, but that doesn't change the fact that "normal" PHP solutions are simply faster to get up and running.
In what circumstances does the fact that a Hello World can be setup in 5 mins versus 10 actually matter?
We spend thousands of hours developing software.
Five mins versus 10 is truly moot.
Besides, you're going to get into httpd.conf to configure a vhost before long -- mod_php or mod_wsgi -- so it's not as if it's a hands-off experience with PHP.
mod_wsgi on the other hand... 4 lines in your apache config file. 6 if you're using a daemon process (which is better).
So I stand by my point!!