diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 32d52387..2505f640 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -37,18 +37,6 @@ jobs:
       contents: read
       id-token: write
 
-  python-tests-extensive:
-    name: 🐍 Test (Extensive)
-    needs: change-detection
-    if: fromJSON(needs.change-detection.outputs.run-python-tests) && github.event_name == 'pull_request' && contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'extensive-python-ci')
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        runs-on: [ubuntu-22.04, ubuntu-22.04-arm, macos-15, windows-2025]
-    uses: munich-quantum-toolkit/workflows/.github/workflows/reusable-python-tests.yml@d6314c45667c131055a0389afc110e8dedc6da3f # v1.17.11
-    with:
-      runs-on: ${{ matrix.runs-on }}
-
   python-linter:
     name: 🐍 Lint
     needs: change-detection
@@ -78,11 +66,10 @@ jobs:
       - change-detection
       - python-tests
       - python-coverage
-      - python-tests-extensive
       - python-linter
       - build-sdist
       - build-wheel
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-slim
     steps:
       - name: Decide whether the needed jobs succeeded or failed
         uses: re-actors/alls-green@05ac9388f0aebcb5727afa17fcccfecd6f8ec5fe # v1.2.2
@@ -92,10 +79,6 @@ jobs:
               fromJSON(needs.change-detection.outputs.run-python-tests)
               && '' || 'python-tests,python-coverage,python-linter,'
             }}
-            ${{
-              fromJSON(needs.change-detection.outputs.run-python-tests) && github.event_name == 'pull_request' && contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'extensive-python-ci')
-              && '' || 'python-tests-extensive,'
-            }}
             ${{
               fromJSON(needs.change-detection.outputs.run-cd)
               && '' || 'build-sdist,build-wheel,'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yml b/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yml
index b379ec12..6e2f24f1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       contents: write
       pull-requests: write
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-slim
     steps:
       - uses: release-drafter/release-drafter@6db134d15f3909ccc9eefd369f02bd1e9cffdf97 # v6.2.0
         env:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/templating.yml b/.github/workflows/templating.yml
index 8f6be419..ee80d594 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/templating.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/templating.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ on:
 jobs:
   render-template:
     name: Render template
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-slim
     permissions:
       contents: write
       pull-requests: write
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index e8053c20..e13927f6 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 # To run all pre-commit checks, use:
 #
-#     pre-commit run -a
+#     uvx prek run -a
 #
 # To install pre-commit hooks that run every time you commit:
 #
-#     pre-commit install
+#     uv tool install prek
+#     prek install
 #
 
 ci:
@@ -14,120 +15,75 @@ ci:
   skip: [ty-check]
 
 repos:
-  # Standard hooks
+  # Priority 0: Fast validation and independent fixers
+
+  ## Standard hooks
   - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit-hooks
     rev: v6.0.0
     hooks:
-      - id: check-added-large-files
-        args: ["--maxkb=2048"]
-      - id: check-case-conflict
-      - id: check-vcs-permalinks
       - id: check-merge-conflict
-      - id: check-symlinks
-      - id: check-json
-      - id: check-toml
-      - id: check-yaml
-      - id: debug-statements
+        priority: 0
       - id: end-of-file-fixer
-      - id: mixed-line-ending
+        priority: 1
       - id: trailing-whitespace
+        priority: 1
 
-  # Handling unwanted unicode characters
-  - repo: https://github.com/sirosen/texthooks
-    rev: 0.7.1
-    hooks:
-      - id: fix-ligatures
-      - id: fix-smartquotes
-
-  # Check for common mistakes
-  - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pygrep-hooks
-    rev: v1.10.0
-    hooks:
-      - id: rst-backticks
-      - id: rst-directive-colons
-      - id: rst-inline-touching-normal
-
-  # Ensure uv lock file is up-to-date
-  - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/uv-pre-commit
-    rev: 0.9.28
-    hooks:
-      - id: uv-lock
-
-  # Python linting using ruff
-  - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
-    rev: v0.14.14
-    hooks:
-      - id: ruff-check
-      - id: ruff-format
-
-  # Static type checking using ty
-  - repo: local
-    hooks:
-      - id: ty-check
-        name: ty check
-        entry: uv run ty check
-        language: system
-        require_serial: true
-        types_or: [python, pyi, jupyter]
-        exclude: ^(docs/)
-
-  # Also run Black on examples in the documentation
-  - repo: https://github.com/adamchainz/blacken-docs
-    rev: 1.20.0
+  ## Check the pyproject.toml file
+  - repo: https://github.com/henryiii/validate-pyproject-schema-store
+    rev: 2026.01.22
     hooks:
-      - id: blacken-docs
-        additional_dependencies: [black==25.*]
+      - id: validate-pyproject
+        priority: 0
 
-  # Check for license headers
-  - repo: https://github.com/emzeat/mz-lictools
-    rev: v2.9.0
+  ## Check JSON schemata
+  - repo: https://github.com/python-jsonschema/check-jsonschema
+    rev: 0.36.1
     hooks:
-      - id: license-tools
+      - id: check-github-workflows
+        priority: 0
+      - id: check-readthedocs
+        priority: 0
 
-  # Catch common capitalization mistakes
+  ## Catch common capitalization mistakes
   - repo: local
     hooks:
       - id: disallow-caps
         name: Disallow improper capitalization
         language: pygrep
-        entry: PyBind|Numpy|Cmake|CCache|Github|PyTest|Mqt|Tum
-        exclude: .pre-commit-config.yaml
-
-  # Format configuration files with prettier
-  - repo: https://github.com/rbubley/mirrors-prettier
-    rev: v3.8.1
-    hooks:
-      - id: prettier
-        types_or: [yaml, markdown, html, css, scss, javascript, json]
+        entry: \b(Numpy|Github|PyTest|Mqt|Tum)\b
+        exclude: ^(\.pre-commit-config\.yaml)$
+        priority: 0
 
-  # Check for spelling
+  ## Check for spelling
   - repo: https://github.com/adhtruong/mirrors-typos
     rev: v1.42.3
     hooks:
       - id: typos
+        priority: 0
 
-  # Check best practices for scientific Python code
+  ## Check best practices for scientific Python code
   - repo: https://github.com/scientific-python/cookie
     rev: 2025.11.21
     hooks:
       - id: sp-repo-review
         additional_dependencies: ["repo-review[cli]"]
+        priority: 0
 
-  # Check JSON schemata
-  - repo: https://github.com/python-jsonschema/check-jsonschema
-    rev: 0.36.1
+  ## Check for license headers
+  - repo: https://github.com/emzeat/mz-lictools
+    rev: v2.9.0
     hooks:
-      - id: check-dependabot
-      - id: check-github-workflows
-      - id: check-readthedocs
+      - id: license-tools
+        priority: 0
 
-  # Check the pyproject.toml file
-  - repo: https://github.com/henryiii/validate-pyproject-schema-store
-    rev: 2026.01.22
+  ## Ensure uv lock file is up-to-date
+  - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/uv-pre-commit
+    rev: 0.9.28
     hooks:
-      - id: validate-pyproject
+      - id: uv-lock
+        priority: 0
 
-  # Tidy up BibTeX files
+  ## Tidy up BibTeX files
   - repo: https://github.com/FlamingTempura/bibtex-tidy
     rev: v1.14.0
     hooks:
@@ -144,3 +100,48 @@ repos:
             "--trailing-commas",
             "--remove-empty-fields",
           ]
+        priority: 0
+
+  # Priority 1: Second-pass fixers
+
+  ## Format configuration files with prettier
+  - repo: https://github.com/rbubley/mirrors-prettier
+    rev: v3.8.1
+    hooks:
+      - id: prettier
+        types_or: [yaml, markdown, html, css, scss, javascript, json]
+        priority: 1
+
+  ## Python linting using ruff
+  - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
+    rev: v0.14.14
+    hooks:
+      - id: ruff-format
+        priority: 1
+      - id: ruff-check
+        require_serial: true
+        priority: 2
+
+  # Priority 2+: Final checks and fixers
+
+  ## Also run Black on examples in the documentation (needs to run after ruff format)
+  - repo: https://github.com/adamchainz/blacken-docs
+    rev: 1.20.0
+    hooks:
+      - id: blacken-docs
+        language: python
+        additional_dependencies: [black==26.*]
+        priority: 2
+
+  ## Static type checking using ty (needs to run after lockfile update/ruff format, and ruff lint)
+  - repo: local
+    hooks:
+      - id: ty-check
+        name: ty check
+        entry: uv run ty check
+        language: unsupported
+        require_serial: true
+        types_or: [python, pyi, jupyter]
+        exclude: ^(docs/)
+        pass_filenames: false
+        priority: 3
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 1ffab67b..9ea88ae5 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ ignore = [
   "MY100", # We use ty instead of mypy
   "PC140", # We use ty instead of mypy
   "PC160", # We use a mirror of crate-ci/typos
+  "PC170", # We do not use rST files anymore
 ]