Also, better comparisons are perl, python, ruby, etc. Many other languages have centralized package repositories, but they aren't controlled by a for-profit, ve

Also, better comparisons are perl, python, ruby, etc. Many other languages have centralized package repositories, but they aren't controlled by a for-profit, venture-backed company. I'm sympathetic to the idea that npm inc's model is a new way to develop and operate a language's repo sustainably. Python, for example, has struggled to get the resources to evolve theirs. I'm not sure npm's approach is working well in practice, though.