This is true. I'd prefer scala-style constructor syntax - though I'm not sure how you could retain python's wonderful symmetry between constructors and methods, and the distinction between allocation and initialization.

I don't know Scala, but the Erights language does something like (pseudo-syntax):

  def Circle(center, radius):
    circumference = 2 * pi * radius
    return object:
      to getCircumference():
         return circumference
      to ...

The "self" is the lexical scope. Simple and more effective than Python's method, IMO.