Patching dependencies is often faster and easier than forking them, especially in the early stages of development when speed of deployment matters. The patch-package tool allows developers to modify existing packages locally without having to take on the weight of forking them, making it a convenient solution for quick fixes or patches. By using patch-package, developers can check their changes into version control, ensuring that others can easily apply them during updates. This approach also enables easy contribution back to the original package, providing an alternative to traditional forking methods.