Re: python3 modules -- apt vs pip?

[Anil F Duggirala <anilduggirala@fastmail.fm>]

> Python provides virtualenv, plus one can install most of the modules
> locally with pip3 install --user <blabla> which will install the
> modules
> in ~/.local/lib and tools in ~/.local/bin, so don't forget to add
> this
> to your PATH.
> 

Could you please explain (to a newbie) exactly what are the advantages
of using the --user option and the possible drawbacks as well? please
Could you tell me why I wouldn't want to use a virtualenv? Is it just
because of the pain of having to activate this virtualenv every time I
want to use those modules? or am I losing any other functionality
provided by my system-wide python?
I am surprised this question was asked 2 days ago, I had the exact same
question today. The numpy module is on version 1.16.2 in the debian
repositories and is on version 1.18.2 in pip.
thank you,