More than 10 years ago I was asked to provide some insights about Java and Python for internal use in our lab. Despite IBM involvement in Java at that time, both Java and Python were see as possibibly immature by my boss. My own conclusion was exactly what you wrote. In fact during the Internet bubble there was a recruiting crisis, and Java (Python was not mature enough at that time) was exactly what was needed: A language for undergraduate people that produces good results, was easy to read and maintain, while forbiding "innovative" but often buggy code.