perf: small perf improvements in OTel API

[gruebel]

Changes

• mostly removed redundant cloning

Merge requirement checklist

• CONTRIBUTING guidelines followed
• Unit tests added/updated (if applicable)
• Appropriate CHANGELOG.md files updated for non-trivial, user-facing changes
• Changes in public API reviewed (if applicable)

[codecov]

Codecov Report

All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests ✅

Project coverage is 80.8%. Comparing base (d32d34c) to head (c1fe2da).
Report is 1 commits behind head on main.

Additional details and impacted files

@@          Coverage Diff          @@
##            main   #2842   +/-   ##
=====================================
  Coverage   80.8%   80.8%           
=====================================
  Files        124     124           
  Lines      23682   23682           
=====================================
+ Hits       19137   19138    +1     
+ Misses      4545    4544    -1     

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[lalitb]

Nice/

[cijothomas]

Looks good, but I want to avoid merging PRs unless necessary on the day of release. Will merge right after I finish 0.29 release.
Requesting changes to prevent accidental merge today.

0.29 release done and all PRs are now unblocked