So effectively the only configuration that makes sense for leaving out dbus would be if you want to use systemd as the host for a stack of containers (hello Cor

So effectively the only configuration that makes sense for leaving out dbus would be if you want to use systemd as the host for a stack of containers (hello CoreOS). Anything more complicated and you get dbus coming along for the ride, no ifs or buts about it. As Ford put it: you can get the model T in any color, as long as it's black.