There are lots of popular python tools that do something very similar to web2py. For example visit, enthought, blender, pygame. "exec" is the only function that distinguish a purely interpreted language forma a compiled one and it is a powerful tool. I agree there are improper uses for exec but that is not the case of web2py. Web2py does have "automatic imports"; web2py exec(s) code in an predefined environment and that is the proper way to use exec. Those who criticize web2py for for this either do not undertand why we do it or are being partisan. I will agree that every design choice has pros and cons.