It seems like this is a comparison of speed. Not a comparison of languages. Each language has their own pro's and con's. For instance, I use R on a daily basis. I don't require speed to do my job because I'm analyzing data and drawing inferences to help make business decisions. I like the fact that there is a huge library and an active community that can help me implement solutions. Perhaps if a solution/product I come up with needs speed then I'll implement a tool that will do that job well. But my "toolbox" requires fast prototyping and development.