Arch Linux

Within a fresh chroot, I got about 207MB with pixbuf.

==> Installing missing dependencies...
resolving dependencies...
:: There are 3 providers available for libgl:
:: Repository extra
1) mesa-libgl 2) nvidia-304xx-utils 3) nvidia-libgl

Enter a number (default=1):
looking for inter-conflicts...

Packages (49): damageproto-1.2.1-2 dbus-1.6.10-1 fixesproto-5.0-2 fontconfig-2.10.92-4 freeglut-2.8.1-1
freetype2-2.4.11-2 gdk-pixbuf2-2.28.1-1 glu-9.0.0-2 hwids-20130228-1 inputproto-2.3-1
jasper-1.900.1-8 kbd-1.15.5-3 kbproto-1.0.6-1 kmod-13-1 libdrm-2.4.44-2 libice-1.0.8-1
libjpeg-turbo-1.2.1-1 libpciaccess-0.13.1-1 libpng-1.5.15-1 libsm-1.2.1-1 libtiff-4.0.3-1
libvdpau-0.6-1 libx11-1.5.0-2 libxau-1.0.7-1 libxcb-1.9-3 libxdamage-1.1.4-1 libxdmcp-1.1.1-1
libxext-1.3.1-1 libxfixes-5.0-2 libxi-1.7.1-1 libxmu-1.1.1-1 libxrandr-1.4.0-1 libxrender-0.9.7-1
libxt-1.1.3-1 libxxf86vm-1.1.2-1 mesa-9.1.2-1 mesa-libgl-9.1.2-1 randrproto-1.4.0-1
renderproto-0.11.1-2 systemd-202-2 wayland-1.1.0-1 xcb-proto-1.8-1 xcb-util-0.3.9-1
xextproto-7.2.1-1 xf86vidmodeproto-2.3.1-2 xproto-7.0.24-1 libxft-2.3.1-1 rxvt-unicode-9.18-2
startup-notification-0.12-3

Total Download Size: 33.17 MiB
Total Installed Size: 207.18 MiB

Without pixbuf I got about 37MB. Pretty an huge economy, even if all those packages are probably setup on a regular desktop.
It also reduce the memory footprint of the terminal btw.

:: Synchronizing package databases...
core is up to date
extra is up to date
community is up to date
:: Starting full system upgrade...
there is nothing to do
==> Building in chroot for [extra] (x86_64)...
==> Creating clean working copy [copy]...done
loading packages...
resolving dependencies...
looking for inter-conflicts...

Packages (15): fontconfig-2.10.92-4 freetype2-2.4.11-2 kbproto-1.0.6-1 libx11-1.5.0-2 libxau-1.0.7-1
libxcb-1.9-3 libxdmcp-1.1.1-1 libxft-2.3.1-1 libxrender-0.9.7-1 renderproto-0.11.1-2
startup-notification-0.12-3 xcb-proto-1.8-1 xcb-util-0.3.9-1 xproto-7.0.24-1 rxvt-unicode-9.18-3

Total Installed Size: 37.54 MiB

I will push a package in testing and see if complains come.

I want downvote this report :)

I think many users (me too) like when can set up backgrounds for terminals - this needs gdk-pixbuf, yes.

But can reverse Olivier's idea: if anybody wants small(er) dependency, can use (or create if doesn't exist) a package from AUR. As I see doesn't exist similar package in AUR so I think only few users wants without gdk-pixbuf2.
And a plus: I think the "geek" users wants smaller deps, the "non-geek" users wants some eye-candy (background, transparency). The geek can use AUR without any problems, the non-geek doesn't want (imho).

/For me it's egal what version will be in repos, because I'm compiling rxvt-unicode manually (with customizepkg)./

Maybe a solution: can be two different version: rxvt-unicode with gdk-pixbuf2 and rxvt-unicode-light (or any other name) without gdk-pixbuf2 and everybody will happy :)