It sure does, and that's certainly a drawback versus a solution that's preinstalled — but if someone is going to become a webdev on a Mac, they will be unable t

It sure does, and that's certainly a drawback versus a solution that's preinstalled — but if someone is going to become a webdev on a Mac, they will be unable to depend on preinstalled scripting languages and so any manner of instruction that requires a working go/node/python/ruby/perl installation will be forced to either use Homebrew or to handcraft replacements for Homebrew. I would consider teaching students the skeletal basics of Homebrew to be a valuable pillar of their ability to perform webdev workplace duties using a Mac. I would consider teaching students the deep details of trying to build their own python and ruby on Mac to not be a valuable pillar of their ability to perform webdev workplace duties using a Mac. So I don't see how there's any alternative to Homebrew, not if they want to prepare their students for today's reality. "Use what's preinstalled with a Mac" is no longer a viable solution, and in my best judgement Homebrew is the minimum work necessary to get them from zero to ready. If there are alternatives that are as simple as Homebrew to have students deploy and maintain as a teacher, we'd all love to learn more about them.