Perhaps this is just the way WordPress is going? We will now be needing plugins (or hooks) to disable functionality instead of adding a simple checkbox to the general settings that says "I don't want that".

WP 4.2 already has two of these things. There is this (the auto activate of new plugins) and please don't forget the emojis that add 2-3 scripts as well as a call to s0.wp.com which is blocked for more than 20% of the world's population.

I think a fork of WP is around the corner if things "progress" the way they are doing now...