This is true, but a lot of OS X programs now require an installer as well, and offer no way for easy removal. The simplest examples I can think of are Microsoft

This is true, but a lot of OS X programs now require an installer as well, and offer no way for easy removal. The simplest examples I can think of are Microsoft Office and the various Adobe products. Certainly many applications can just be dropped in the Applications folder, and I admit this is a great feature. But I still have to go out and get updates to those programs, and not all can be installed or removed as easily as moving the application folder. With a package manager, it auto-updates every program for security updates and sometimes bug fixes. If I add the repository for that particular application, it automatically gives me new versions when they come out. Everything is in one place. Furthermore, I can search for software that does a particular task and be presented with several choices that are just a click away. I'm glad OS X works best for you, but for my needs and uses, Ubuntu is a far superior choice.