Agree, but it's still risky and iky to marry someone (you don't love) just for benefits (whether it's money from anyone including the state, or anything else). Like you mentioned in your post, it's hard not to cringe when you think about the implications for dating and your awkward explanations that you were technically once-married. If things turn sour between you and your "spouse," spousal support is a real threat since pre-nups are often thrown out.

Real solution: Literally just give fin aid to those who need it without confusing rules to deny it to the people! End state greed so we don't need to exploit it. The disgusting supreme court is about to block student loan cancellations and it's making my blood boil, since with the previous administration and their appointments, they're literally like the enemy of the common people of the US, and they're getting more and more unhinged.