So what is a great language? If it runs the largest active user app on the planet (FB), the most widely used CMSes (WP,Drupal,EE), message boards, MVPs, etc. Why continue the hate, then end the article on how you've chosen it as the greatest option to run some of your systems.
Twitter, famously known as a Rails, now Scala, shop, has used php throughout its life (I know several php coders that have worked there). Their developer/documentation area is Drupal (acquia).
But moreover, as web architectures have become more distributed and JSON heavy, PHP has held onto its language position, especially with International devs.
As a CTO, not a employee, its also important to consider the salaries, roles of the people you need to build the platform.
SF Rails http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=rails&l=San+Francisco,+CA&rbt=R...
SF PHP http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=php&l=San+Francisco,+CA&rbt=Sen...
Then look at Non-US prices. Can't find a recent blog post where someone reported on salaries by language.
Quite honestly, there's only a couple or so languages that I would truly describe as "great".