I don't do the kind of development that you do, Howard. I can appreciate what you are saying, however. Yes, I would run a VM machine from my Mac, just as I run a vm-PC when needed.
Getting back to MAMP, I do want to mention that I had success installing a new version of MAMP, version 6.3, in early January on Big Sur. Yep, success installing Moodle 3.10.1 in MAMP, too. So far I have not encountered any security problems. I haven't tried installing Moodle from the Mac installer on Moodle.org, as I think Glenn did. I just never have had success with it.
Getting back to MAMP, I do want to mention that I had success installing a new version of MAMP, version 6.3, in early January on Big Sur. Yep, success installing Moodle 3.10.1 in MAMP, too. So far I have not encountered any security problems. I haven't tried installing Moodle from the Mac installer on Moodle.org, as I think Glenn did. I just never have had success with it.