Scripting in general isn't a "toy". In fact, it is smart design.
Most modern [commercial and hobbyist] game engines include some sort of scripting engine. Some even implement standardized languages like Python, Lua and JavaScript. Run a check on how many of the most popular games today use scripting, which is especially effective with mods, and you might be shocked.
This scripting-movement isn't limited to games. Popular tools and applications, expecially open-source, use scripting. PHP is among the most popular scripting languages used on the web today, and even drive this message board.
We all realize that