No, Python is not the easiest to get started with due to the configuration in the beginning involving virtual environments and different Python versions from system (venv, pyenv, conda, and all the differing tools and tutorials one comes across).

No, the key to Python's success is that it's the most English-like language. It's succinct and reads very well. While most langs use &&, ||, and !, Python uses 'and', 'or', 'not', 'in', 'with', etc. This is a huge boon for novices that aren't comfortable by the sudden influx of symbols compared to natural language. Thus, it's adopted by most intro to programming university curriculum and leads to popularity by virtue of a lang many people have experience with.