Php is just old. Much better technologies exist now. However, I prefer php to python, though, python is popular.
Discussion
Better technologies in what way?
Well, module management for one. Php modules are not great.
I assume importing libraries. I think autoloading works greats, loading only what needed. What are the downsides in your opinion?
No, I mean importing other modules. Just the fact that you have to specify that a module should only be imported once ("require_once") or it will attempt to redefine things in a circular import illustrates the problem. Python has a similar problem here.