[njharman]

One of them is. And ability to interpret Python is requirement for any python program to be able to run. Being able to build and deploy a c lib is not.

So, someone has made python run on Foo platform, lets say a watch. If I have a pure python program I can run it on that watch with no more fuss. If I have to rely on a c library then I have to get that ported to Foo platform, maybe dealing with developer keys and making "authorized" signed binary, etc, etc. Pure python is orders of magnitude easier.

That is why "Pure Python" is a thing.

Several standard libs come in pure python and C versions cause pure python is an advantage / requirement for some use cases. And speed is for others.