Correct! Is it not fair to say that Python was at least initially popularized by the perception (right or wrong) that its syntax made it easier to learn? From there it rapidly spread (network effects) within the community of educators and learners and then outwards into the education adjacent field of scientific computing.

I see perception and network effects having at least initially a stronger factor in Python’s popularity than any particular technical advantage.

Back in 2000, there was Zope, and Python was slowly being eyed as a saner alternative to Perl.

That is where it got its first wave of users.