Further, people like GVR say things like "In a decade we figure python 3 will be pretty widespread", and "Python 3 isn't really ready for primetime yet, don't use it". Is it really a groundbreaking blog post to mention that people aren't using it now, and that it doesn't work quite the way author expected.

Of course the original author also claimed Python 3 is attempting to maintain some backwards compatibility based on a module which interfaces a system call. And then complains that it should just be a clean break from the past. And after that complains that the new thing isnt the old thing. If that confuses you, don't worry I'm confused too.

Do you have any resources for learning about such history? I'd be quite an interesting read I think.

Right. Anyway, we first have to settle the question "will LISP ever get critical adoption?"

:)

(I love LISP. I'm trying to point out that "critical adoption" doesn't seem to be a very important or measurable thing.)