PHP's RPM vs PHP's Compiling???

Trying to figure out which would provide more choices or controls... See, I usually compile PHP with those prefix options to allow it to take in cURL, mCrypt, OpenSSL, etc... Later, if I need to add something then I can redo the PHP configuration with additional prefix and recompile PHP. All of this before compiling Apache. People have been bugging me to use the RPM for Linux instead. I hestiate on it because my understanding of RPM is that it is a compiled program that is then packaged up into RPM. Well correct me if I'm wrong. I never done the RPM before and I hestiate on it because what if it doesn't include the cURL support or mCrypt support or OpenSSL support? What if I need to add something to PHP, would it work by redoing something to the PHP RPM? I want to hear your knowledge, opinion and advice on this. Thanks, FletchSOD