.NET and Python?

[David Lees]

I may be using .NET in the near future and am looking for advice on how 
to use Python in that environment.  I see there was some work done by 
Mark Hammond  and Greg Stein described in a Nov 2002 white paper 
http://starship.python.net/crew/mhammond/dotnet/ describing an 
experiment in Python implementation.  Have the issues, particularly the 
speed issue, been addressed?  Am I stuck using VB instead of Python if I 
am forced to go .NET?

TIA

David Lees