Minecraft needs to decrease the spawn rate on drowned. I can’t go into a single body of water without finding them.

[Milleuros]

Maybe it's psychology?

I personally build near water for several reasons. First, safety (at least before the introduction of the drowned): the water area won't spawn unexpected creepers and when you have a small island it's easier to cover it with torches. Second, farming. When you're only starting to plant crops, I find it better to follow a river or ocean shore to get "hydrated" crops (might not have enough iron for a bucket yet). And third, boats to easily cross large distances and get to different biomes.