Per https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Talk:Suggestions_for_extensions_to_be_integrated#System_administrator_fatigue: they are bundled by default because we think they are useful, or they would not be bundled. 17 checkboxes to click (in 1.21) for what we consider a standard MediaWiki experience make little sense.
Version: 1.22.0
Severity: enhancement
URL: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Talk:Suggestions_for_extensions_to_be_integrated#System_administrator_fatigue