> If you rely on your package manager, you are basically stuck with whatever was in the previous LTS of ubuntu when it was shipped.

This is not exactly true. You are free to put together your company's PPA, and just package your stuff as you see fit. You know, use the system's package manager to serve your and your user's interests.

> If you want the newest library, then you are either dependent on some external proper packager, or you have to get into packaging yourself. I don't consider picking a random external source something I would do in a professional context.

If you're in a "professional context" then you're already in the business of packaging and distributing software packages.