Is mod_python 3.1 good for commercial blogging/CMS?

[Anthony L.]

I am writing a web application that is comparable to a content 
management system used in blogging. I really want to use Python after 
having done some evaluation coding using Python 2.3.5 with mod_python 
3.1.4 running on Apache 2.0 with the Publisher handler.

However, I am still very hesitant to settle on Python. All my research 
brings up the same collection of scant articles and old mailing list 
messages that reference each other. I am not interested in using 
frameworks, partly because I am confused by them, but mostly because I 
don't want to add another layer of software complexity on top of my code 
since I already am expecting a hard time finding low-cost dedicated 
hosting with Apache 2 and mod_python 3 support.

I have made a few assumptions regarding Python and mod_python's value. 
Hopefully the experts here can help correct any of my assumptions and 
give me some more comfort in committing to Python.

1. I want to use CGI through Publisher handler, instead of CGI handler 
or PSP. Despite the speed increase mod_python gives me, there is a 
problem of persistence that can be a problem when dealing with a site 
that will hosts potentially hundreds of simultaneous users.

2. I have found nothing to quantify the stability and reliability of 
mod_python 3, and in the absence of a list of major commercial sites 
that use mod_python, I am left feeling as is there might be technical 
(read as stability/security) reasons to favor mod_perl over mod_python.

3. I am not very attracted to PSP because I want to separate the logic 
from the presentation as completely as possible, and PHP and other 
template languages including PSP seem difficult to do that in. Learning 
template systems like PyMeld is an unattractive option for me since I 
don't understand their benefit. Why can't I just use req.write() to 
output my markup, relying completely on external CSS after the fact? My 
thought is that HTML templates provide a minimum set of static code that 
doesn't require extra processing, thus keeping performance up. However, 
if I minimize my use of req.write() will it make a difference?

4 A final question, is mod_python 2.7 suitable for use in a commercial 
production system? All I'm doing is text processing, string 
manipulation, database calls, and some very minor mathematics. If the 
Apache 1.3 series mod works fine, can I relieve myself of some stress 
and go with that combo?

I'd appreciate some practical advise on this. I am funding this myself 
on a small budget with no hard deadline, so it is critical to me that I 
choose a language that will minimize my costs. Are my assumptions 
correct, or am I falling prey to FUD?

Anthony