> You can write a confusing unreadable Haskell script, just like you can write a confusing unreadable Python script.

I totally agree (and have seen both scenarios throughout my career).

That said, all else being equal[0], refactoring the purely functional code is, usually, easier, more reliable and less scary.

[0] - among other things, this assumes the person doing the refactoring knows, in this example, both Python and Haskell equally well.