I understand fragmentation here, as you can get what you need in a format that works well-enough.

Different package formats often have technical differences. Recently I had the choice to use something from a flatpak to reduce lib32 dependencies on my system… but I didn’t go with that as the other dependencies it needed (openGL, graphics driver etc) were redundant thanks to sandboxing (~2GB download!).

Anything native from itch, GOG, or humble doesn’t really ‘install’ but rather they are just extracted… so the files should be what it is (portable, except game saves/user data likely won’t be). This allows you to run it off of a slower+larger-capacity drive.

EDIT: Also if you need to compile it, probably will also just compiled to where you put it (to a bin folder).

Non-system stuff like this is more viable for things that you don’t need updated frequently/ever (particularly games/software post-development). For sure most-of-the-time the best experience is via your package manager.

Me when

when it is never tail time ever

valid criticism*

* Latest Fad

EDIT: I am referencing Stan Kelly’s political satire cartoons (example)

Is this supposed to be self-deprecating or did you forget to switch accounts?

I would take this deal. (meaning fate on the tracks)

You got scammed, bro. 4-stroke lungs are a much better deal. (uni-directional breathing, air sacs before/after lungs. birds, crocodiles, dinosaurs)

Seems a bit odd to have so much standard, correct-era tech. Having anachronism seems like the point, the futurism bit. Like Quadrilateral Cowboy, or often Cowboy Bebop.

The one exception may be the stuff like that Nissan 300ZX (1985) digital dashboard, that feels anachronistic in an entirely different way. I could imagine a 3hr video essay on how expensive the design was, or perhaps a Technology Connections breakdown of the functionality/workings/issues etc.