Docker philosophy question

A minor gripe. Docker is a way to minimize the set up time and get things running quickly. To get what I want I need to stick with Debian slim(e) and put every language and analyzer on its own container then I can get regular easy updates.

What I was hoping is a Fedora base and then the ability to add python:latest and R:lastest with a dockerfile so everything gets an update every build. Going back to the compiling step seems to get me back to upgrading a single host with everything on it on a regular basis. What I’m finding in the hub aren’t additional packages but everything on its own minimal base.

Am I nuts?

Dave