Anyone else noticing increased CPU utilisation after 10.5.4 for Python programs?

[Apple Nutter]

I noticed a huge, average 70% additional CPU utilisation for all my Python
programs under OS X 10.5.4 compared with OS X 10.5.3 and am a bit alarmed.

The programs have not changed, just the OS X version.

Programs make use of OpenGL.

As a side note, they also use much more CPU and tend to perform more poorly
in relation to animation smoothness under the new Intel Core 2 Duo equipped
Macs (with the nVidia 8600 series graphics chip) than they do under the old
PowerPC G4 and ATI RV280 graphics chipset equipped Macs. Even with the same
OS X 10.5.4 installed on all systems.

Very disheartening if you work in Python.