Is NetworkManager bloated (gentoo)? If yes, what should i use instead?

Still needs to be maintained otherwise one day it will be broke.

The components that it depends on are actively maintained. NetworkManager itself doesn't need to be updated unless something major changes.

wpa_supplicant with a good .conf and wpa_cli+wpa_passphrase or wpa_gui for connecting to new/temporary networks. Works perfectly.

Also:
network={
key_mgmt=NONE
priority=-999
}

If you put that into your config file it will automatically connect to unsecured (public) networks like airport wifi.

I was using nmcli (command line interface to NetworkManager) but recently found out that wpa_cli works just as well with much less bloat.

wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Dhcpcd-ui

I use wicd for wifi. Works great

It actually refuses to work with a usb wifi adapter i have.

I'm too lazy to mess around with it. wpa_supplicant/ip/udhcpc combination works just fine for me.

does anything work as well as networkmanager for USB tethering and bluetooth PAN

I use wpa_supplicant on my Gentoo install

Have you considered to stop wasting your time and be productive?

no

I just use dhcpcd and wpa_supplicant. It works for me. NetworkManager always gave me strange problems.

rip