Without weighing into systemd debates on which I am not qualified, there is a difference between including the kitchen sink in an app that you don't have to use

Without weighing into systemd debates on which I am not qualified, there is a difference between including the kitchen sink in an app that you don't have to use or have installed at all, eg emacs can be eschewed in favour of nano, ed, nvi or whatever vs a core part of the system you are using. The unix philosophy is merely an explanation of a preference in building things. It can be ignored by yourself where appropriate, be a minor concern or be considered the key guiding and crucial principle in your decision making. Whatever you think of systemd its criteria for whether you think it good, bad or indifferent design in principle is likely to be pretty different to emacs. Rob Pike once said the unix philosophy is dead with Perl reading the Euology. (...and didn't Plan 9 exploit that to world dominance? YMMV) May everyone enjoy using the systems that they use or at least be getting closer to that ideal.