begin() and end() return iterators. Python has iterators too, so this concept shouldn't be alien to Python programmers. reverse() is a generic algorithm that operates on any pair of bidirectional iterators.

Actually, in C++, you ideally wouldn't reverse the string at all... you'd just call str.rbegin() and str.rend() to grab the reverse iterators, and pass them straight to your next algorithm.

The two approaches are just as consistent as one another, Python just uses a terser syntax (which, in my opinion, isn't as obvious).

In C++14, if all things go according to plan with Concepts Lite, you'll be able to write a short 3-5 line, reusable, version of reverse() that takes your string (or container) as one argument, deduces at compile time, during overload resolution, that begin() and end() return bidirectional iterators, and then does the right thing. Failing that, C++14 may introduce Ranges. So C++ is only getting terser.