[gyuserbti]

I agree with the OP a little. Central repository models have advantages but they've always seemed like short term benefits in exchange for long term costs.

Things like the app store, in for profit scenarios, seem like ways to slip in monopoly control. Brew is an attempt to circumvent it.

I don't want to come across as suggesting they're a bad idea or don't have advantages, just that on balance I've always had a sense there had to be a better way.