AFAICT, lacking a (good) standard HTTP library is kind of the norm in popular languages. Python, Ruby, Rust, etc. all either have a lackluster standard one or are missing one. I think it sits between two many decision pressures for most languages: there are a _lot_ of different RFCs both required and implied, lots of different idioms you could pick for making requests, lots of different places to draw the line on what to support, etc.

The notable exception is Go, which has a fantastic one. But Go is pretty notable for having an incredible standard library in general.

Is Rust popular? It's popular among HN users, and among certain other bubbles, but can it be called generally popular? Ruby sure can't be.