Using npm link <package> instead of ln -s

This is how I would suggest people get started. Use `npm`'s built in functionality instead of using `ln -s`. 
I completely don't understand the risk you are suggesting. It's only for people hacking on cabbage (limited set of cabbage customers), and if you `npm install` without calling `npm link cabbage` you'll get the npm package instead of the linked directory. `npm link cabbage` creates a symlink to `<npm-cache>/node_modules/cabbage` which is symlinked to `../../cabbage`. So I'm guessing you've experienced some annoying case that hasn't reared it's head in my world.