[kjander79]

One thing to note: The reason why SICP uses Scheme is not that the resulting programs are simpler. But instead, the mental model of what is happening under the hood is simpler, and easy to refine as you go along. This makes it possible to come to the end of the class, ready to create your own Scheme interpreter. I don't think that's possible with any of the alternatives, like Python.

I am sure this result was rare, of course, even when it was the introductory at MIT. And as you point out, Racket has changed a lot also. I think it has been some years that Racket stopped calling itself Scheme, feeling the changes they have made have deviated too far.