Is it really necessary to download all packages when prompted that new packages are available. I know I can't tell exactly which ones I need but if I see "update to Bulgarian vi" can I skip and will it eventually go away as a package to download.

Thanks in advance

You don't mention how you go about updating and upgrading but if you use a "normal" method (apt-get, aptitude, or some front end for them) then an update && upgrade does not introduce any new packages but only gives up to date versions of packages already installed or any new dependencies created by upgrading an existing package. You are always queried about such changes by the upgrade manager.

I don't know how you came to have "Bulgarian vi" on your system but the answer will be to remove it if you don't want it. I assume nothing else depends on you having it there.

I hope this is clear.
Cheers,
jdk

No
Why not? If you never use VI, you don't need VI and you don't need any VI updates and you don't specifically need the Bulgarian language VI update.

I default to assuming that I will take any security update unless I can prove that I am not using and will not use that package.

For more genral 'updates' (non-security), I am a bit more lax; I might even ignore it depending on how much I use the package and how viatl it is.

The only really difficult area is libraries; I default to assuming that I will update libraries, unless I can prove that no app uses them; you would have to use something like 'requires' but its usually easier just to update and not worry about it.