[zestyping]

Python is a teaching language. One of its strengths is that it can be your first language and still be one you use professionally a decade later.

A "trivial" obstacle to a seasoned programmer can be an insurmountable obstacle to a beginner.

[bsder]

The problem here is that print "statement" can't be upgraded to a log "function" easily as the programmer grows in experience.

A print "function" conversely is quite easy to upgrade to a log "function".

In addition, "print" is almost always a code smell in professional code. The moment you need to localize, change destination, etc., "print" goes right out the window.

I have lots of beefs with Python 3. Changing print to a function is NOT one of them.