If I only wanted to degoogle and disable other manufacturer’s bloatware from my Android device, is using adb to “uninstall” the system apps from user 0 pretty much as effective as rooting and using something like debloat terminal while rooted or are there bypasses that make rooting the better option? I’m not concerned about reclaiming the space used by these disabled system apps in this case.
Adb is just as effective as root for just disabling the apps for one user. As you said this won’t free the space fully. Keep in mind you might softbrick your phone by uninstalling something unsafe.