Is this also true of MAMP installations? 
I believe MAMP enables curl by default, however you can always check by opening the php.ini file which will be stored in Applications:MAMP:conf. If there is a ; preceding the setting, then it is currently disabled.
Could you elaborate please.If I (as is my habit) develop at a remote directory i.e. ABC and than when all development is done I simply change the directory name to the active site name i.e. ABCD, what else would I need to do to be able to maintain dynamic functionality?
In many cases your process would work fine. Although, this could cause some path issues when you change a directory name.
What i do instead is set up a new directory at the root of my server for the new site i am creating. I will then finish building my site, or in the case of PowerStore, add all my products and modify the content. Then, when i'm ready to go live, i log into my Hosting Provider's control panel, open the Manage Domains/Domain Overview page, and edit the Destination for my domain to redirect to the new folder.
I only have 1&1 to use as an example, but here's the process:
1. Log into the 1&1 Control Panel.
2. Choose Manage Domains.
3. Select the checkbox next to the domain i want to use.
4. Choose the Destination down arrow, and select Edit Destination.
5. From the Existing directory menu, choose the new folder where you have developed your site.
6. Click OK.
Now, when you navigate to that domain, it will go to the new site instead of whatever you had set previously.
