[zokier]

Instead of vanilla Python shell, I'd use IPython instead. It has all the run/save/load stuff you mention, and tons of other things to make Python nicer to use interactively. IPython also has Qt-based console, which has the ability to display rich content inline. I think the ability to interact with graphical subsystems is important, look at C64 demoscene to see what idle kids can do with even with primitive graphics system.

[tehwalrus]

booting into an IPython QT shell in full screen, with a custom help message explaining how to save hunks of code to file, would be great. Being able to Alt+Tab to a browser (even one pointing at a local copy of the python and ipython docs) would be essential, though.