An eyesplice can indeed be too bulky. Exacerbated by the fact that many DS sailors overdimension their running rigging.
A splice, with shackle, is not the shortest possible connection, especially if much of the splice can't fit the sheaves.
A bowline isn't necessarily the best alternative. Because it can't be cinched after it's tied, its fixed loop is often longer than necessary.
A
buntline hitch (google for tying instructions) has the advantage that it cinches up and therefore represents the smallest possible loop. It was invented for being tied to a flogging part of the sail and won't come loose. In modern rope, it is easy enough to undo it after it's been loaded. I used that for a number of years for my jib.
Another method is a toggle at the end of the halyard. A bight is pushed through the cringle and the toggle (or large knot, e.g.
diamond knot) is brought from one side of the headboard to the other and trapped by the bight. This connection adds at most a single rope diameter in length and is trivial to tie and undo.
I'm currently using a soft shackle based on the excellent instructions on
http://l-36.com. I tied a short end around the cringle using a
cow hitch and finishing in a large knot (diamond knot). The soft shackle is a special eye splice with an eye that can be worked open and will pull tight under load (easy with Dyneema). The halyard gets connected to the toggle by opening the eye and placing it around the knot. That gives a reasonably short connection which is quick to connect - a little bit slower than a metal shackle, but not by much.
As a Dyneema halyard can use a smaller diameter, the eyesplice will fit the sheaves.
I enjoyed the splicing work in that setup, but I'm thinking that the toggle at the end of the halyard is the best approach. Instead of a fancy knot, just use one of those terminating balls.
