I've enjoyed the Python networking libraries I've used. A lot. Could you be more specific?

Also, I'm not quite clear on your issue with packaging. Can you be more specific? Compared to C, I find importing existing code to be nearly heavenly.

Regarding backwards compatibility, maybe it's an issue, maybe it's not. On the one hand it's frustrating and some people will make it an issue. On the other hand, I can't help but think of cases like Apple, where they were the first to abandon modems, serial ports, diskette drives, and CD drives—but probably made the right decision.