> I think PHP really does need to try and clean up its image.
Sorry, but you obviously have not been taking notice over the past year or two. PHP really has been cleaning up its image. Go have a look at PHP-FIG, composer and packagist for starters.
Yes, there are problems. Yes, some/most may think that there are better solutions. But to think that PHP has not been "cleaning up its image" is just wrong.