Django and MapServer
One problem that new Python MapScript users immediately run into is the choice of web framework; Python is blessed (or afflicted) with a multitude. I think these users owe it to themselves to check out what Adrian Holovaty has been doing on chicagocrime.org using Django.
I'm still up to my ears in Zope 2 projects through the end of this summer, but will be trying out Django as soon as possible.