Python program distribution revisited

[Mark C]

All,

I looked at starting to use Python instead of Perl for custom data 
conversion programs a couple years ago, but discarded the idea because 
of the difficulty in distributing standalone Python apps to production 
machines.

Have there been any significant improvements to Python in this regard in 
the interim?  Is this an area ActiveState has addressed, for example, as 
they did with their Perl PDK?  I'd really like to use Python in the 
future, but the ability to easily produce an exe that's (relatively) 
small in size, and requires no additional files, is an absolute 
necessity.

Thanks!

Mark C.