The W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (the gold standard for web accessibility and the usual legal requirement) only requires that images of text have "text alternatives" - it doesn't require the alt attribute specifically. Your solution to just use text alongside the image should be fine in most cases.
The only practical difference is that with alt text, the blind person is aware that there's a graphic on the page. With alt="" they have no idea the image exists. Does that matter? Maybe in some contexts - you have to use your best judgment on a case-by-case basis.
It also doesn't require alt text for images that are purely decorative and not necessary to understand the content, though this is a bit subjective. Could a blind reader still imagine the idea of a developer in an office working feverishly to hit a deadline, and would that add to their experience of the article enough to be worth including? Again, there are no hard and fast rules here so you just have to use your best judgment.
The only practical difference is that with alt text, the blind person is aware that there's a graphic on the page. With alt="" they have no idea the image exists. Does that matter? Maybe in some contexts - you have to use your best judgment on a case-by-case basis.
It also doesn't require alt text for images that are purely decorative and not necessary to understand the content, though this is a bit subjective. Could a blind reader still imagine the idea of a developer in an office working feverishly to hit a deadline, and would that add to their experience of the article enough to be worth including? Again, there are no hard and fast rules here so you just have to use your best judgment.