This is too black and white. Don't fret, you can use function calls all you want in python... the situations in which Guido is talking about being conscious of your stack frame are pretty rare in typical practice.

Also, getters/setters are totally inane in python (and probably most other languages).

In fact, in general Guido's advice reads as a good warning to folks showing up from other languages who's first reaction might be to create a com/mycubiclefarm/exceptions/abstract/ directory and start writing SeriousBaseClassesForMyExceptions.