For the most part, software does not exist in a vacuum. If there is a serious bug, or much improved feature, in a library you depend on, what do you do? Most likely you'll try to upgrade the library. Same deal for the compiler, it's a huge dependency.

If your project is truly done, by all means ship it on a N64 cartridge. I can't say I don't have sympathy for that attitude. But don't expect this is how the world works today. And don't forget, N64 cartridges weren't built using massive amounts of dependency, so it was easier to confidently declare something "done".