Some people who build packages, may be using Slackware-current, or they have updated certain libraries, then they build their packages. So that when someone else uses these packages on their system, such as a stock Slackware-10, they are missing these libraries.
It is possible that the packager used an updated library, which you were missing. But you did have an earlier verison of the library, this is why compile && make did not complain.
Building your own Slackware packages is very simple, and is a good way to install packages, since you now have the ability to remove these titles with pkgtool.
To build a packages that works on ALL Slackware-10 boxes, you have to have a Slackware-10 install with absolutely no updates. Then your packages will work on all other Slackware-10 installs. This is how the majority of Slackware packages are built, and preferred at
http://linuxpackages.net
As for a packages that is compatible for every distro, that is not going to happen. Building from sources would be that 'universal' system. It is possible to install different packages onto Slackware, such as using a rpm or .deb on slackware, but it requires a conversion process.