That basically is what a venv is, an entirely separate Python install. Some files are linked rather than being copied, but it looks the same. venv gets you a

That basically is what a venv is, an entirely separate Python install. Some files are linked rather than being copied, but it looks the same. venv gets you a couple extra conveniences, like the activation script. I wouldn't call venv "opaque automation," there's not much magic going on there.