I know python, is it easy to write things for Maya?
Meh, most of the time if your writing anything to Maya your going to be using mel commands a lot anyway.
Its good "glue" really. I'm a little biased to MEL as i spent the time learning it.
Give it a go. 2011 has a few nice little bits like completion and path completion.
"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle