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This changed in 1.9. Ruby is now compiled into a stack machine based bytecode. Ruby 1.8 used the AST internally, you're right there. This made e.g. method calls very slow compared to the new byte code representation.

1.8 -> 1.9 was an entire re-write, it's now a bytecode compiled language: http://www.ruby-doc.org/core-2.1.0/RubyVM/InstructionSequenc...

That's correct. I still think Ruby 1.8 would be a useful data point just because it's a widely used language that many people are familiar with, but in this case I'm comparing it to Ruby 2.0, so it is apples/apples.

For what it's worth, I look at these benchmarks as validating feasibility more so than really trying to win some performance fight between languages. In order to argue that my language is suitable for real world use, I need to show it's performance is comparable to other languages that are widely used. From that angle, Ruby is a fine comparison, regardless of how it's implemented.