It's beside the point because it's a custom python script, hair splitting aside! You're implying the transition is as easy as mastering a programming language. Isn't that honestly a fallacious argument...?
I wish my team could move over to the quiet space in the corner with the whiteboard and that we could hire some Python programmers. I'm happy otherwise...
your best to ignore mel, or use the c++ api or python api for it all http://docs.autodesk.com/MAYAUL/2013/ENU/Maya-API-Documentation/files/Writing_File_Translators.htm