i use core precisely because i don't want persistence that i don't explicitily decide. this helps me so much; i can try things, make mistakes, and i can trust i get another clean chance. my data is always on some other drive that i can mount on whatever distro. with respect to core, i know i can, as alternative, create a data tcz.
the point is that my startup and shutdown times just stay fast; my perspective/choices make me wonder if u are holding on to data that should be separate. across four sticks, my core installs are all just under or close to 256MB.
newbie i am, so maybe things are markedly different for you -just a thot.
ttz