diff --git a/yt/data_objects/construction_data_containers.py b/yt/data_objects/construction_data_containers.py
index 6f86a5176d0..c4979d97b0c 100644
--- a/yt/data_objects/construction_data_containers.py
+++ b/yt/data_objects/construction_data_containers.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 from more_itertools import always_iterable
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.field_data import YTFieldData
 from yt.data_objects.selection_objects.data_selection_objects import (
     YTSelectionContainer1D,
@@ -497,6 +496,8 @@ def _mrep(self):
         return MinimalProjectionData(self)
 
     def deserialize(self, fields):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if not ytcfg.get("yt", "serialize"):
             return False
         for field in fields:
@@ -516,6 +517,8 @@ def deserialize(self, fields):
         return deserialized_successfully
 
     def serialize(self):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if not ytcfg.get("yt", "serialize"):
             return
         self._mrep.store(self.ds.parameter_filename + ".yt")
@@ -1882,6 +1885,8 @@ def export_obj(
         ...     )
 
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if color_map is None:
             color_map = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         if self.vertices is None:
@@ -2001,6 +2006,8 @@ def _export_obj(
         emit_field_max=None,
         emit_field_min=None,
     ):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if color_map is None:
             color_map = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         if plot_index is None:
@@ -2213,6 +2220,8 @@ def export_blender(
         ...     )
 
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if color_map is None:
             color_map = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         if self.vertices is None:
@@ -2258,6 +2267,8 @@ def _export_blender(
         emit_field_max=None,
         emit_field_min=None,
     ):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if color_map is None:
             color_map = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         if plot_index is None:
@@ -2359,6 +2370,8 @@ def export_ply(
         ... ]
         >>> surf.export_ply("my_galaxy.ply", bounds=bounds)
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if color_map is None:
             color_map = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         if self.vertices is None:
@@ -2394,6 +2407,8 @@ def _export_ply(
         color_log=True,
         sample_type="face",
     ):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if color_map is None:
             color_map = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         if hasattr(filename, "read"):
@@ -2548,6 +2563,8 @@ def export_sketchfab(
         ... )
         ...
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if color_map is None:
             color_map = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         api_key = api_key or ytcfg.get("yt", "sketchfab_api_key")
diff --git a/yt/data_objects/image_array.py b/yt/data_objects/image_array.py
index c18c0e58f45..272ce82d98d 100644
--- a/yt/data_objects/image_array.py
+++ b/yt/data_objects/image_array.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.units.yt_array import YTArray
 from yt.visualization.image_writer import write_bitmap, write_image
 
@@ -387,6 +386,8 @@ def write_image(
         >>> im_arr.write_image("test_ImageArray.png")
 
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if cmap_name is None:
             cmap_name = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         if filename is not None and filename[-4:] != ".png":
diff --git a/yt/data_objects/index_subobjects/grid_patch.py b/yt/data_objects/index_subobjects/grid_patch.py
index 8e7ed4ae3e0..3fc03b9eeae 100644
--- a/yt/data_objects/index_subobjects/grid_patch.py
+++ b/yt/data_objects/index_subobjects/grid_patch.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 import yt.geometry.particle_deposit as particle_deposit
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.selection_objects.data_selection_objects import (
     YTSelectionContainer,
 )
@@ -20,8 +19,6 @@
 from yt.utilities.lib.mesh_utilities import clamp_edges
 from yt.utilities.nodal_data_utils import get_nodal_slices
 
-RECONSTRUCT_INDEX = bool(ytcfg.get("yt", "reconstruct_index"))
-
 
 class AMRGridPatch(YTSelectionContainer):
     _spatial = True
@@ -163,6 +160,8 @@ def _prepare_grid(self):
         # This is definitely the slowest part of generating the index
         # Now we give it pointers to all of its attributes
         # Note that to keep in line with Enzo, we have broken PEP-8
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         h = self.index  # cache it
         my_ind = self.id - self._id_offset
         self.ActiveDimensions = h.grid_dimensions[my_ind]
@@ -170,7 +169,7 @@ def _prepare_grid(self):
         self.RightEdge = h.grid_right_edge[my_ind]
         # This can be expensive so we allow people to disable this behavior
         # via a config option
-        if RECONSTRUCT_INDEX:
+        if ytcfg.get("yt", "reconstruct_index"):
             if is_sequence(self.Parent) and len(self.Parent) > 0:
                 p = self.Parent[0]
             else:
diff --git a/yt/data_objects/particle_trajectories.py b/yt/data_objects/particle_trajectories.py
index 5d988d6d77a..ee5526157a0 100644
--- a/yt/data_objects/particle_trajectories.py
+++ b/yt/data_objects/particle_trajectories.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.field_data import YTFieldData
 from yt.funcs import get_pbar, mylog
 from yt.units.yt_array import array_like_field
@@ -59,6 +58,7 @@ class ParticleTrajectories:
     def __init__(
         self, outputs, indices, fields=None, suppress_logging=False, ptype=None
     ):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
 
         indices.sort()  # Just in case the caller wasn't careful
         self.field_data = YTFieldData()
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ def _get_data(self, fields):
         The trajectory collection itself is a dict of 2D numpy arrays,
         with shape (num_indices, num_steps)
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
 
         missing_fields = [field for field in fields if field not in self.field_data]
         if not missing_fields:
diff --git a/yt/data_objects/static_output.py b/yt/data_objects/static_output.py
index 7295c6a6ba6..a93c3c95284 100644
--- a/yt/data_objects/static_output.py
+++ b/yt/data_objects/static_output.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 from unyt.exceptions import UnitConversionError, UnitParseError
 
 from yt._maintenance.deprecation import issue_deprecation_warning
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.particle_filters import filter_registry
 from yt.data_objects.particle_unions import ParticleUnion
 from yt.data_objects.region_expression import RegionExpression
@@ -57,7 +56,9 @@
 
 
 _cached_datasets = weakref.WeakValueDictionary()
-_ds_store = ParameterFileStore()
+
+# TODO: this needs an actual solution
+_ds_store = None  # ParameterFileStore()
 
 
 def _unsupported_object(ds, obj_name):
@@ -149,6 +150,8 @@ class Dataset(abc.ABC):
     domain_center = MutableAttribute(True)
 
     def __new__(cls, filename=None, *args, **kwargs):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if not isinstance(filename, str):
             obj = object.__new__(cls)
             # The Stream frontend uses a StreamHandler object to pass metadata
diff --git a/yt/data_objects/time_series.py b/yt/data_objects/time_series.py
index ab241b01391..bc08fff2fb3 100644
--- a/yt/data_objects/time_series.py
+++ b/yt/data_objects/time_series.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 import numpy as np
 from more_itertools import always_iterable
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.analyzer_objects import AnalysisTask, create_quantity_proxy
 from yt.data_objects.particle_trajectories import ParticleTrajectories
 from yt.funcs import is_sequence, mylog
@@ -193,6 +192,8 @@ def _get_filenames_from_glob_pattern(outputs):
         Helper function to DatasetSeries.__new__
         handle a special case where "outputs" is assumed to be really a pattern string
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         pattern = outputs
         epattern = os.path.expanduser(pattern)
         data_dir = ytcfg.get("yt", "test_data_dir")
diff --git a/yt/fields/xray_emission_fields.py b/yt/fields/xray_emission_fields.py
index 60532aec855..49eb17c5156 100644
--- a/yt/fields/xray_emission_fields.py
+++ b/yt/fields/xray_emission_fields.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.fields.derived_field import DerivedField
 from yt.funcs import mylog, only_on_root, parse_h5_attr
 from yt.units.yt_array import YTArray, YTQuantity
@@ -20,6 +19,8 @@
 
 
 def _get_data_file(table_type, data_dir=None):
+    from yt.config import ytcfg
+
     data_file = "%s_emissivity_v%d.h5" % (table_type, data_version[table_type])
     if data_dir is None:
         supp_data_dir = ytcfg.get("yt", "supp_data_dir")
diff --git a/yt/frontends/amrvac/data_structures.py b/yt/frontends/amrvac/data_structures.py
index 4cf8dc32986..ba7a8c569d3 100644
--- a/yt/frontends/amrvac/data_structures.py
+++ b/yt/frontends/amrvac/data_structures.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 import numpy as np
 from more_itertools import always_iterable
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.index_subobjects.grid_patch import AMRGridPatch
 from yt.data_objects.static_output import Dataset
 from yt.funcs import mylog, setdefaultattr
@@ -191,6 +190,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         """
         # note: geometry_override and parfiles are specific to this frontend
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
 
         self._geometry_override = geometry_override
         super().__init__(
diff --git a/yt/frontends/fits/data_structures.py b/yt/frontends/fits/data_structures.py
index 580681d0eff..fc582a533b9 100644
--- a/yt/frontends/fits/data_structures.py
+++ b/yt/frontends/fits/data_structures.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 import numpy.core.defchararray as np_char
 from more_itertools import always_iterable
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.index_subobjects.grid_patch import AMRGridPatch
 from yt.data_objects.static_output import Dataset
 from yt.funcs import mylog, setdefaultattr
@@ -330,6 +329,7 @@ def __init__(
         units_override=None,
         unit_system="cgs",
     ):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
 
         if parameters is None:
             parameters = {}
diff --git a/yt/frontends/owls/fields.py b/yt/frontends/owls/fields.py
index 5bf919f202d..1fc4af06e97 100644
--- a/yt/frontends/owls/fields.py
+++ b/yt/frontends/owls/fields.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.fields.species_fields import (
     add_species_field_by_density,
     add_species_field_by_fraction,
@@ -319,6 +318,7 @@ def setup_fluid_fields(self):
     # exist it will download the data from http://yt-project.org/data
     # -------------------------------------------------------------
     def _get_owls_ion_data_dir(self):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
 
         txt = "Attempting to download ~ 30 Mb of owls ion data from %s to %s."
         data_file = "owls_ion_data.tar.gz"
diff --git a/yt/frontends/ramses/definitions.py b/yt/frontends/ramses/definitions.py
index d446312fe47..63eeb5dda16 100644
--- a/yt/frontends/ramses/definitions.py
+++ b/yt/frontends/ramses/definitions.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 # These functions are RAMSES-specific
 import re
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
-from yt.funcs import mylog
+# from yt.funcs import mylog
 
 
 def ramses_header(hvals):
@@ -69,6 +68,8 @@ def ramses_header(hvals):
     "gas_tracer": 0,
 }
 
+# TODO: this needs an actual solution
+"""
 if ytcfg.has_section("ramses-families"):
     for key in particle_families.keys():
         val = ytcfg.get("ramses-families", key, fallback=None)
@@ -77,3 +78,4 @@ def ramses_header(hvals):
                 "Changing family %s from %s to %s", key, particle_families[key], val
             )
             particle_families[key] = val
+"""
diff --git a/yt/frontends/ramses/field_handlers.py b/yt/frontends/ramses/field_handlers.py
index a50cfae95eb..257cefb9cbd 100644
--- a/yt/frontends/ramses/field_handlers.py
+++ b/yt/frontends/ramses/field_handlers.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import os
 from typing import List
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.funcs import mylog
 from yt.utilities.cython_fortran_utils import FortranFile
 
@@ -305,6 +304,8 @@ class HydroFieldFileHandler(FieldFileHandler):
     @classmethod
     def detect_fields(cls, ds):
         # Try to get the detected fields
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         detected_fields = cls.get_detected_fields(ds)
         if detected_fields:
             return detected_fields
diff --git a/yt/frontends/ramses/particle_handlers.py b/yt/frontends/ramses/particle_handlers.py
index 39866edb4f8..cc79d4f7ab5 100644
--- a/yt/frontends/ramses/particle_handlers.py
+++ b/yt/frontends/ramses/particle_handlers.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import abc
 import os
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.funcs import mylog
 from yt.utilities.cython_fortran_utils import FortranFile
 
@@ -60,6 +59,8 @@ def __init_subclass__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
         return cls
 
     def __init__(self, domain):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         self.setup_handler(domain)
 
         # Attempt to read the list of fields from the config file
diff --git a/yt/geometry/geometry_handler.py b/yt/geometry/geometry_handler.py
index e37f58097a2..bf244a301e8 100644
--- a/yt/geometry/geometry_handler.py
+++ b/yt/geometry/geometry_handler.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.units.yt_array import YTArray, uconcatenate
 from yt.utilities.exceptions import YTFieldNotFound
 from yt.utilities.io_handler import io_registry
@@ -54,6 +53,8 @@ def _initialize_state_variables(self):
         self.num_grids = None
 
     def _initialize_data_storage(self):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if not ytcfg.get("yt", "serialize"):
             return
         fn = self.ds.storage_filename
diff --git a/yt/geometry/grid_geometry_handler.py b/yt/geometry/grid_geometry_handler.py
index 332e1255c63..88481cc35a0 100644
--- a/yt/geometry/grid_geometry_handler.py
+++ b/yt/geometry/grid_geometry_handler.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 from yt.arraytypes import blankRecordArray
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.fields.derived_field import ValidateSpatial
 from yt.fields.field_detector import FieldDetector
 from yt.funcs import ensure_numpy_array, iter_fields
@@ -402,6 +401,8 @@ def _chunk_io(
         preload_fields=None,
         chunk_sizing="auto",
     ):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         # local_only is only useful for inline datasets and requires
         # implementation by subclasses.
         if preload_fields is None:
diff --git a/yt/testing.py b/yt/testing.py
index a22944c0168..f6198ffe6e4 100644
--- a/yt/testing.py
+++ b/yt/testing.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 from numpy.random import RandomState
 from unyt.exceptions import UnitOperationError
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.funcs import is_sequence
 from yt.loaders import load
 from yt.units.yt_array import YTArray, YTQuantity
@@ -932,6 +931,8 @@ def inner_func(*args, **kwargs):
 def requires_file(req_file):
     from nose import SkipTest
 
+    from yt.config import ytcfg
+
     path = ytcfg.get("yt", "test_data_dir")
 
     def ffalse(func):
@@ -962,6 +963,8 @@ def true_wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
 def disable_dataset_cache(func):
     @functools.wraps(func)
     def newfunc(*args, **kwargs):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         restore_cfg_state = False
         if not ytcfg.get("yt", "skip_dataset_cache"):
             ytcfg["yt", "skip_dataset_cache"] = True
@@ -1341,6 +1344,8 @@ def requires_backend(backend):
     """
     import pytest
 
+    from yt.config import ytcfg
+
     def ffalse(func):
         # returning a lambda : None causes an error when using pytest. Having
         # a function (skip) that returns None does work, but pytest marks the
diff --git a/yt/utilities/logger.py b/yt/utilities/logger.py
index fccc8fea7cd..1745e3b4a2a 100644
--- a/yt/utilities/logger.py
+++ b/yt/utilities/logger.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import logging
-import sys
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
+# import sys
+
+# from yt.config import ytcfg
 
 # This next bit is grabbed from:
 # http://stackoverflow.com/questions/384076/how-can-i-make-the-python-logging-output-to-be-colored
@@ -60,11 +61,13 @@ def set_log_level(level):
 ufstring = "%(name)-3s: [%(levelname)-9s] %(asctime)s %(message)s"
 cfstring = "%(name)-3s: [%(levelname)-18s] %(asctime)s %(message)s"
 
+# TODO: this needs an actual solution
+"""
 if ytcfg.get("yt", "stdout_stream_logging"):
     stream = sys.stdout
 else:
     stream = sys.stderr
-
+"""
 ytLogger = logging.getLogger("yt")
 
 
@@ -113,10 +116,13 @@ def disable_stream_logging():
     ytLogger.addHandler(h)
 
 
+# TODO: this needs an actual solution
+"""
 def colorize_logging():
     f = logging.Formatter(cfstring)
     ytLogger.handlers[0].setFormatter(f)
     yt_sh.emit = add_coloring_to_emit_ansi(yt_sh.emit)
+"""
 
 
 def uncolorize_logging():
@@ -131,6 +137,9 @@ def uncolorize_logging():
         pass
 
 
+# TODO: this needs an actual solution
+"""
+
 _level = min(max(ytcfg.get("yt", "log_level"), 0), 50)
 
 if ytcfg.get("yt", "suppress_stream_logging"):
@@ -149,3 +158,4 @@ def uncolorize_logging():
 
     if ytcfg.get("yt", "colored_logs"):
         colorize_logging()
+"""
diff --git a/yt/utilities/parallel_tools/parallel_analysis_interface.py b/yt/utilities/parallel_tools/parallel_analysis_interface.py
index b64ba701f70..a4ede882a72 100644
--- a/yt/utilities/parallel_tools/parallel_analysis_interface.py
+++ b/yt/utilities/parallel_tools/parallel_analysis_interface.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from more_itertools import always_iterable
 
 import yt.utilities.logger
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.image_array import ImageArray
 from yt.funcs import is_sequence
 from yt.units.unit_registry import UnitRegistry
@@ -84,6 +83,8 @@ def enable_parallelism(suppress_logging=False, communicator=None):
         The MPI communicator to use. This controls which processes yt can see.
         If not specified, will be set to COMM_WORLD.
     """
+    from yt.config import ytcfg
+
     global parallel_capable, MPI
     try:
         from mpi4py import MPI as _MPI
@@ -162,6 +163,8 @@ class ObjectIterator:
     """
 
     def __init__(self, pobj, just_list=False, attr="_grids"):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         self.pobj = pobj
         if hasattr(pobj, attr) and getattr(pobj, attr) is not None:
             gs = getattr(pobj, attr)
@@ -1217,6 +1220,8 @@ def partition_index_2d(self, axis):
         return True, reg
 
     def partition_index_3d(self, ds, padding=0.0, rank_ratio=1):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         LE, RE = np.array(ds.left_edge), np.array(ds.right_edge)
         # We need to establish if we're looking at a subvolume, in which case
         # we *do* want to pad things.
diff --git a/yt/utilities/parameter_file_storage.py b/yt/utilities/parameter_file_storage.py
index f9e733e5157..374c5b0db3b 100644
--- a/yt/utilities/parameter_file_storage.py
+++ b/yt/utilities/parameter_file_storage.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import os.path
 from itertools import islice
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.funcs import mylog
 from yt.utilities.object_registries import output_type_registry
 from yt.utilities.parallel_tools.parallel_analysis_interface import (
@@ -54,6 +53,8 @@ def __init__(self, in_memory=False):
         Otherwise, use read-only settings.
 
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if not self._register:
             return
         if ytcfg.get("yt", "store_parameter_files"):
@@ -82,6 +83,8 @@ def init_db(self):
         # these will be broadcast
 
     def _get_db_name(self):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         base_file_name = ytcfg.get("yt", "parameter_file_store")
         if not os.access(os.path.expanduser("~/"), os.W_OK):
             return os.path.abspath(base_file_name)
@@ -170,6 +173,8 @@ def get_recent(self, n=10):
 
     @parallel_simple_proxy
     def _write_out(self):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if self._read_only:
             return
         fn = self._get_db_name()
diff --git a/yt/visualization/image_writer.py b/yt/visualization/image_writer.py
index 4b184e65063..72cf7c3a585 100644
--- a/yt/visualization/image_writer.py
+++ b/yt/visualization/image_writer.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.funcs import mylog
 from yt.units.yt_array import YTQuantity
 from yt.utilities import png_writer as pw
@@ -197,6 +196,8 @@ def write_image(image, filename, color_bounds=None, cmap_name=None, func=lambda
     >>> frb1 = FixedResolutionBuffer(sl, (0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5), (1024, 1024))
     >>> write_image(frb1[("gas", "density")], "saved.png")
     """
+    from yt.config import ytcfg
+
     if cmap_name is None:
         cmap_name = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
     if len(image.shape) == 3:
@@ -233,6 +234,8 @@ def apply_colormap(image, color_bounds=None, cmap_name=None, func=lambda x: x):
     to_plot : uint8 image with colorbar applied.
 
     """
+    from yt.config import ytcfg
+
     if cmap_name is None:
         cmap_name = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
     from yt.data_objects.image_array import ImageArray
@@ -391,6 +394,8 @@ def write_projection(
     ...     take_log=True,
     ... )
     """
+    from yt.config import ytcfg
+
     if cmap_name is None:
         cmap_name = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
     import matplotlib.colors
diff --git a/yt/visualization/plot_container.py b/yt/visualization/plot_container.py
index d97a067fd77..bd56358b900 100644
--- a/yt/visualization/plot_container.py
+++ b/yt/visualization/plot_container.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties
 from more_itertools.more import always_iterable
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.time_series import DatasetSeries
 from yt.funcs import dictWithFactory, ensure_dir, is_sequence, iter_fields, mylog
 from yt.units import YTQuantity
@@ -242,6 +241,8 @@ def __init__(self, data_source, figure_size, fontsize):
         self.setup_defaults()
 
     def setup_defaults(self):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         def default_from_config(keys, defaults):
             _keys = list(always_iterable(keys))
             _defaults = list(always_iterable(defaults))
diff --git a/yt/visualization/plot_window.py b/yt/visualization/plot_window.py
index 0612453ea82..6f598e9363c 100644
--- a/yt/visualization/plot_window.py
+++ b/yt/visualization/plot_window.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from packaging.version import Version
 from unyt.exceptions import UnitConversionError
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.image_array import ImageArray
 from yt.frontends.ytdata.data_structures import YTSpatialPlotDataset
 from yt.funcs import fix_axis, fix_unitary, is_sequence, iter_fields, mylog, obj_length
@@ -290,6 +289,8 @@ def fdel(self):
     frb = property(**frb())
 
     def _recreate_frb(self):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         old_fields = None
         # If we are regenerating an frb, we want to know what fields we had before
         if self._frb is not None:
diff --git a/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/render_source.py b/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/render_source.py
index 8a569699a79..b741a878879 100644
--- a/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/render_source.py
+++ b/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/render_source.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.data_objects.image_array import ImageArray
 from yt.funcs import ensure_numpy_array, is_sequence, mylog
 from yt.geometry.grid_geometry_handler import GridIndex
@@ -35,18 +34,19 @@
 )
 from .zbuffer_array import ZBuffer
 
+# TODO: migrate this to yt.config
 try:
     from yt.utilities.lib.embree_mesh import mesh_traversal
 # Catch ValueError in case size of objects in Cython change
 except (ImportError, ValueError):
     mesh_traversal = NotAModule("pyembree")
-    ytcfg["yt", "ray_tracing_engine"] = "yt"
+    # ytcfg["yt", "ray_tracing_engine"] = "yt"
 try:
     from yt.utilities.lib.embree_mesh import mesh_construction
 # Catch ValueError in case size of objects in Cython change
 except (ImportError, ValueError):
     mesh_construction = NotAModule("pyembree")
-    ytcfg["yt", "ray_tracing_engine"] = "yt"
+    # ytcfg["yt", "ray_tracing_engine"] = "yt"
 
 
 def invalidate_volume(f):
@@ -666,6 +666,8 @@ class MeshSource(OpaqueSource):
 
     def __init__(self, data_source, field):
         r"""Initialize a new unstructured mesh source for rendering."""
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         super().__init__()
         self.data_source = data_source_or_all(data_source)
         field = self.data_source._determine_fields(field)[0]
@@ -1318,6 +1320,8 @@ class GridSource(LineSource):
     def __init__(
         self, data_source, alpha=0.3, cmap=None, min_level=None, max_level=None
     ):
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         self.data_source = data_source_or_all(data_source)
         corners = []
         levels = []
diff --git a/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/scene.py b/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/scene.py
index 90f9b449107..d7259197f85 100644
--- a/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/scene.py
+++ b/yt/visualization/volume_rendering/scene.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from yt.config import ytcfg
 from yt.funcs import mylog
 from yt.units.dimensions import length
 from yt.units.unit_registry import UnitRegistry
@@ -758,6 +757,8 @@ def annotate_grids(
         >>> im = sc.render()
 
         """
+        from yt.config import ytcfg
+
         if cmap is None:
             cmap = ytcfg.get("yt", "default_colormap")
         grids = GridSource(