I'm not understanding - what exactly are you referring to here? Variety of what?
This was only to single out that you were only referring to .NET. But as an example lets say packaging systems (rpms, debs, etc.).
Just talking about Linux frameworks in general. Java and .NET are much easier to work with in my experience.
I'm still trying to figure out what you're comparing, in general my opinion of Linux frameworks is pretty good.
As for Java, sometimes Java is the right tool for the job. Other times I don't really want this giant virtual machine and eating up memory and clock cycles.
My opinion of .NET is about the same.
By bloat, you seem to be referring to features. Those features, in my experience, only speed up development time. Especially VS 2010 (which is what I currently use).
Easy, why should I have to initialize and search all of the project files when I am just trying to compile? Just a waste of time. Getting around this is possible in Windows, but not that straightforward for a Windows user (cmd).
What makes SCONx or CMake any better than MSBuild? It's not the builder so much as the framework IMO. Builders just build what they're told to; they're not very smart tools.
For example, with CMake I can build a project with 4 separate library dependencies in about 5 lines of script/code.
The equivalent in a typical build file for Visual Studios is in the kilobytes of xml. It's complicated enough that you almost have to use the GUI to change it. Again requiring me to start up Visual Studios again rather than just changing, say a build target.
Secondly, try to create this build file from scratch. Another giant pain in the ass.
Whereas CMake or SCons I can just create the build file on any computer/text editor and just drop it in. When it's 5 lines of script, why the hell should I have to wait for VS to load when I would already be done the changes, in say notepad.