I don't see how packages can be worse than the lack of packages: instead of foo-bar-baz (the emacs convention), one has at least the option of writing bar-baz a

I don't see how packages can be worse than the lack of packages: instead of foo-bar-baz (the emacs convention), one has at least the option of writing bar-baz at best or foo:bar-baz at worst (and, if doing something naughty, foo::bar-baz). Moreover, packages enable one to do things like lock down certain packages, e.g. for security in a multi-user system.