there was once something called "GoboLinux" that mounted static packages, and used a next of links to connect everything together. I like that approach. Shame it didn't progress.
I imagine something similar might come alone using docker, but really we just need LFSH reform.
What it does is put the output of a "make install" or similar into its own name/version branch in the directory tree, and then use symlinks to place those files within a traditional FHS for backwards compatibility.
As with any small distro is has a problem with manpower, especially as certain parties involved with big name distros are hell bent on rebuilding everything around their vision of the Linux desktop.
I think the current maintainer is aiming at getting a new release out "soon", and was looking into providing a tool that could build an ad hoc "jail" for a program and its specific tree of dependencies.
I imagine something similar might come alone using docker, but really we just need LFSH reform.