Without this setting the `configure` script finds system python and malfunctions, because of this issue: https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/Gems%2C-Eggs-and-Perl-Modules . My goal was to generalize it instead of using hardcoded `/usr/local/bin/python`, so it would work on others' systems with different roots. If you can show me how to get the proper Homebrew `python` path using the construct you're recommending, I am happy to make the correction.