This has to be the case, yes.
When I open PBE for the first time after it is compiled, and I go to File > Preferences, I get a dialog that looks like this:
So the path tot the Backend Applications actually looks incorrect. It is in this phase that if I navigate to DL and switch to FEMA P-58 it crashes.
and my terminal shows this output, which fooled me into thinking that something was wrong with conan:
When I correct the paths ...:
it works.
The build instructions clearly mention that you have to update the paths. I was just assuming that this would only matter after hitting "Run".
I am glad that I can build and use the apps on Linux, even though you don't test them on that platform. To Freedom!!