Where is it written that it's a dark pattern to collect form information before the user presses submit? Maybe the company wants that information because sometimes the form breaks, or the user isn't able to figure it out, and they want to be able call that person on the phone or write them an email and be like, hey, can we help you fill out the form? That's perfectly reasonable in my opinion. But if the intent was to sell that email address to marketers who would put it on as many nonconsensual spam lists as possible, well, then that was going to happen regardless of whether or not the user pushed the button, because the whole website is a dark pattern which means leaving was the ethical thing to do, so let's not blame technology when the problem was people.
The dark pattern is saving the email without informing the user or asking for permission to do so. Normally, permission is given when the user clicks "submit," but if you save the email before they click submit, it's a dark pattern.
> they want to be able call that person on the phone or write them an email and be like, hey, can we help you fill out the form? That's perfectly reasonable in my opinion.
How is the reasonable? The real-world equivelant is going to a shop, looking around, and then leaving without buying anything and going home. If a store representative then knocked on my door and offered to help me find whatever I was looking for, that would be extremely creepy.
Sure, it might work out if someone did get stuck with a form, and actually does want someone to help them with it, but that's a tiny perentage of people. The real reason is not altruism, it's to make money.
