Earlier quoted context omitted.
you are exactly on point. the unix way is simplicity and transparency. systemd is complex and opaque. it's ok to have systemd's goals, but an additional goal should be "not a huge monolith"
What is the criteria by which you classify something as "opaque"? The documentation for systemd and its utilities is second to none.
$ man none
No manual entry for none
Sounds about right.