How is it not an apt comparison? What pip would do in this case is bypass apt and install the latest version of Django and its dependencies. If I'm going to do that I might as well build the database and server from source too to have the latest versions. But then why am I using Debian?
You seem to be missing my original point. My understanding is you want to run the latest and greatest python, best practice is pretty much to use pip & virtualenvs(I'm not a python dev, so don't quote me on that). If you want stable, use the debian packages with security updates. Best of both worlds, like I said, but it's an either/or choice.
Besides missing the origianl point, comparing pip to tarballs just seems wrong. One is pretty much manual, the other is via a package manager, albiet not the distro specific package manager, but one specific to the domain you are working within.
"But then why am I using Debian?"
Personally, I tend to stick with everything from debian direct, but there are lots of domain specific developers who'd rather have the up-to-date stuff and I can't entirely fault their desire when we're talking about real world benefits of new versions. You still benefit from the stable base even if you want to run something up-to-date. You don't see the benefit of that?
Going forward from that, you can still pip in specific versions, update projects seperatly, and obviously test them before doing so, so while you may lose some advantages, living in a specific pip world doesn't seem like the end of the world to me, as long as there's a positive reason for doing so.
Isn't that the way it should be? Especially in a production environment - not upgrading unless you're sure your core packages don't break your product?
