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Thank you for the comment, it was very helpful, i'm taking notes
The perfect macropad does not exist. there are uses for even a 1x1 macropad.
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it depends on the situation. >

Now I'm picturing a setup with 1 button boards that have contacts on all 4 sides and can be assembled into a(n)x(n) size macro pad >

I thought of that, a case on wich you can put whatever you want, knobs, buttons, sliders ecc.
But i don't know how they could communicate with each other and for my first project i want to make things simpler, maybe in the future >

Im looking for an affordable barebones wireless numbpad/6 key macropad and its seemingly impossible >

What do you mean with barebones >

No switches or keycaps included >

Hotswap and QMK/VIA are requirements, the rest is preference. >

You're setting a high bar with "perfect" :D Just ignore the bits that make you go eep.
It would have a USB passthrough - so you plug your main keyboard into the macropad and normally the pad passes the keystrokes from the main keyb to the computer. This enables dynamic macros, where you can type on the main keyboard to program the macropad - no software needed at all, so good for use in offices that don't like people running random software on their systems.
The trouble with a single macropad is you don't know what size of main keyboard the user's got. A 60% user might like cursor keys and numpad as well, where a fullsize user might just want macro keys. The solution is to make it possible to join pads together, rather like a split keyboard. This way you can make one small unit and people who want a big pad can join several together.
A mode switch would be good - it provides a way to split the macros. By program, by function, or just put the really drastic ones away in a separate layer. I don't think this has been done in a standard configuration, but it's easily doable with QMK.
It would be nice to have locking mod keys - that way those who are using the pad as a numpad or cursor pad can use the mods without stretching across from the main keyboard. Again this could be done with QMK, it's not a hardware thing.
And of course, proper QMK, hotswap sockets, and if you're using a USB-C socket a mini-B or micro-B would be nice too, preferably on a daughterboard for ease of replacement... well, you did ask for perfect.