Myth: "Gutenberg is native so it's zero bloat"

Myth: "Gutenberg is native so it's zero bloat"

"Just use core blocks, no plugin weight" is half true and quietly wrong. Core Gutenberg is lighter, but it is not weightless, and block libraries reintroduce everything you were avoiding.

Pros of staying with core blocks:
— No separate builder framework loaded
— block-library/style.css is cached site-wide

Cons / the reality:
— WordPress 6.x still injects global-styles inline CSS on every page
— Duotone, layout, and gap support emit extra rules even unused
— The moment you add Kadence or Spectra blocks, you're back to plugin CSS/JS

Verdict: Gutenberg lowers the floor, it doesn't remove it. "Native" is not a synonym for "free."

Best for: content-heavy sites that can live on core blocks and a block-based theme.