Exactly. Most other web languages have this issue: You start from (1)"Here is how to do xyz. Fun huh" and (2)"Here is how you start working on your webapp."
Step 2 involves getting a server somewhere (as opposed to mamp or $3 hosting). Deciding on a framework (or no framework). Probably some command line stuff. etc.
With php, there is no step 2. Some of what you do in step 2 php programmers might want to do anyway (eg install a framework) but it's not necessary for starting out.
Upsides and downsides to that, I guess (I'm not a programmer) but that is core. If you could take that (MAMP-like installation, through your code into html, etc.) and use another language (including an existing one) I think you would have something.
What about, you can throw it into your HTML real quick and it'll work?