[H-GEN] unbloated, stable, rolling release distros

[Mick]

Just wondering what is available these days in the way of unbloated,
stable, rolling release distros.

In the past I have tried:
gentoo - spent all my time keeping it up to date but well documented

archlinux - quite good between ultra bleeding edge updates but desktop
(xfce4), HAL & UDEV frequently crippled by updates. reasonable core
documentation and limited/incomplete/not quite right docs for other bits
such as database, mail server.

as well as these I have used:
redhat 5.2 through FC1

debian 3r0 was fine but OLD even at release performed well once I built
a decent kernel

debian 3r1 slower than a 3 legged donkey in the melbourne cup. tried to
build a kernel but selinux refused to let it run.

(k)ubuntu - if there was any option that just one person MIGHT use once
in their lifetime it was locked in, bloated was a gross understatement.
then they went to KDE4 and half the functionality was left behind but
you could never run out of eye candy to play with.

I have also flirted with slackware but found package management was
like groping in the dark wearing oven mittens.

PLEASE NOTE THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE IMPURELY SUBJECTIVE AND PROBABLY
IL-INFORMED I only included them in the hope they might shed some light
on me

mick