Is seat selection really a dark pattern? Exit row seats are the most worthwhile add-on to buy when flying IMO, sometimes having even more leg room than business class seats for a fraction of the cost.
Yep, that sucks. But on the other hand, overbooking is a thing, so if you buy a ticket without seat selection for a popular flight there's a chance you literally won't be let into the plane you paid for because all the seats are already taken. Happened to me once, I had to agree to a free replacement ticket to a different city in an entirely different European country (Brussels instead of Cologne) and spend about 200€ on a late night taxi to my destination.
We were one of the 10 people on the flight...including some of our friends who didn't select seats, but sat on the same row.....