Rust's stdlib is fine, it's similar to C++ and C++ never had this problem.

It's just that it you give developers tools, they will absolutely abuse them to the highest extent. The problem with cargo is it's too good, so of course devs are gonna be pulling hundreds of dependencies. It's also why things like Claude Code have so much potential for shitty outcomes. Developers are lazy to the n-th degree. In fact, being a developer is predicated on being lazy. Laziness is the whole motivation behind software!