Refrigerators are another one. A top freezer is simple because on the coolant loop that’s the coldest area, keep it cold until it produces refrigeration level temp and then as it warms return it to the compressor at the bottom using gravity. But everyone wants freezers at the bottom, or french doors so complexity is added to fight physics.
Last air conditioner I bought (and returned) had Alexa built in but not the ability to keep the fan running all night.
That old school simpler design you refer to has its own problems, relying on a fixed ratio of cooling where you often get either a warm freezer or cold fridge. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PTjPzw9VhY
Modern fridge/freezer combos want to control the ratio of cooling. This is often done as simply as controlling a fan that moves cold air between the compartments.
There is a difference is a freezer on the bottom or French door isn't just aesthetic. It changes how people use the fridge. Bottom freezer drawers are easier to random access, for instance, and don't lose as much of the cold when open, and thus are a good solution for people who freeze a lot of stuff.
That it, it makes the physics harder but produces a payoff.
It’s probably true of most complexity, it’s added for a functional purpose and payoff, but takes away from the simplicity.
People choose the complexity of a bottom freezer, but in this case the complexity of the choice isn’t even apparent to them. It’s unlikely to keep running as long as a top freezer fridge from the 80s or 90s, but they don’t know that when buying.
Last air conditioner I bought (and returned) had Alexa built in but not the ability to keep the fan running all night.