What search engine are you using ? The first result when typing "ubuntu iso" in Google leads to a page where the first button is a link to a direct download.
For "ubuntu server iso" it's pretty much the same, with just one extra click
We are not talking about the same thing - those first hits are the "Live" ISO not the actual installation ISO; the "Legacy" (their word) installation ISO is the 7th link down on Google for "ubuntu server iso" below the Google injected "People also ask:" with a bunch of whatever you call those things they put there (forum and mailing list links usually).
Doesn't the live cd present a boot menu with a direct install option like others do? If not, that's even more annoying; it already requires a DVD these days because they have to include too much software, they should certainly be able to include a tui installer.
I've read that starting with 21.xx they won't even produce ISO media with the normal installer on it, we'll get the Live version and nothing else. Time will tell.
