I don't think Django was inspired by Rails, but I could be wrong. CakePHP definitely was. In fact, I learned CakePHP by watching Ruby on Rails screencasts because I couldn't get RoR installed on a VPS way back when, while CakePHP installed effortlessly, yet didn't have many good tutorials.
Which means what? I'm pretty sure they didn't know or care about one another when they were used privately. I'm not arguing which one was more influential.
It's funny how obsessed some people become with languages and frameworks, and how people using 'in vogue' ones are applauded, whilst those using perfectly capable but 'out of vogue' ones are looked down upon.
I agree though, I think the "This is the best thing since sliced bread" phase is over for rails.
I'm of the opinion that TechCrunch knows a thing or two about technology. But writing sensationalist headlines and then attracting all the loons to come out and post comments about Rails suck and so on...
My point is this: some people look to TC as an authority now and when the articles and comments reflect one perspective on something it's going to sway some people.
I don't have specific links. It's more of a vibe over the past few months of reading reddit and this site. Ruby, in general, seems to be getting put aside. BUT, what would i know?!
I think it's just the honeymoon is over and people are looking at it a bit more objectively then a year ago when all the Web 2.0 fashionistas were gobsmacked over it.
Don't get me wrong, I like Rails and it's a great framework as long as you keep in mind its warts, but there was a period of about 8 months where Rails was the Second Coming of Christ in web app framework form...
It wouldn't surprise me if most of Heroku's technology translated to other stacks easily.