"If you find a package that isn't prepacked for the distribution"
That should also be a big hairy read flag warning read as "why is it not packaged for the distribution?"
- you may not be running the better distribution for your needs if many desired programs are not in the repository. An example would be Backtrack lacking some desired non-security application or other distributions lacking security related applications which Backtrack includes by default. Another example would be Ubuntu lacking some specific hardware driver which is included by default in Mandriva or PCLinuxOS.
- the distribution may have it's own packaged alternative. An example is Debian Stable providing Iceweasel as a distribution specific packaging of Firefox. Another; Icedove (Debian packaged Thunderbird) and Enigmail (Debian packaged Enigmail 64bit plugin). Easily installed Debian packaged versions rather than the third party installs from mozilla.com.
While one can bend a distribution for use outside it's intended target audience, they have to accept that they are going to have some work to do. I can put effort into a Debian Stable build with all my desired security tools or I can simply use Backtrack with all my desired security tools included by default.
