> So the question is - how much is possible to make OpenSuSE (or any
> other distro from the name of the topic) light, fast and efficient?

that is kinda like asking:

Q: Of all the automobiles manufactured today, how much is possible to
make them light, fast and efficient?

A: That depends on how much time and effort at rebuilding you intend
to invest. As well as the level of your particular mechanical skills
and tools set.

so, back to your question and my A: All can be slimmed down to be
lighter, faster and more efficient.

another way to attack this problem would be to just pick an already
light, fast and efficient distro and do NOT load it down trying to
make it "look better" and have more eye-candy, bells and whistles and
etc than the Redmond Pig. (which, imho, seems to be the focus of the
current openSUSE/KDE4 development clique..)

ymmv,
--
brassy