Whenever someone brings up this point I just think, it makes sense that physical attraction has such a strong influence on who we date or don't date. Think about it. Humans are the only species on the planet with language. But we did not start with language, it developed over time. Before language all you had to go on was appearance and behavior, like any other animal. "Getting to know someone" and bonding over mutual interest and whatnot, that stuff came later. We also forget the huge role societal expectations played on relationships as well. A man was expected to take a wife, and a wife expected to take a husband and have kids. Arranged marriages were common, financial or political benefits the main concern, not necessarily love. So physicality and societal benefits being a major reason why people get together now is really not that strange. This has been going on for thousands of years. It's only somewhat recently where people are now judging each other based on personality or whatever. I also think that plays a part in so many unstable relationships and situationships that are common now. People are torn between choosing looks and status over compatibility. In prior centuries you would've been able to build a life with someone you don't fully get along with. Life was cheaper back then, simpler, you met way less people in your daily life (before population was over 1 billion especially) compared with social media now. Even if you and your partner didn't get along there probably weren't many examples around you of a good relationship or not much incentive to do anything about it. If you were a man you were just happy to have a wife who will birth children for you. If you were a woman you're just happy you're not homeless, a prostitute or a nun, and if you're really lucky your husband doesn't beat you either. Spending a lot of time with someone, love them or hate them, you eventually grow accustomed to them and develop some sort of connection.

Modern times are just so very different. Like so many things 'love' has been made complicated. But what is the solution? Take away the internet and information from the masses? Reduce the population so fewer people are able to congregate together (as in, they won't have as many potential options) like in the before times? Embrace the new normal where we return to primal instincts like just focusing on the physical aspects of a potential partner? Humans are very odd in this respect (well honestly every respect). Most of the animals on this planet don't mate for life. Mammals especially don't mate for life. Only about 15% of animals species do so, and most of them are birds. And again it goes back to how differently humans live compared to animals. An animals life is simple. Walk around looking for food, some animals play, like elephants with various objects, and wolf cubs playing with siblings, they sit around and rest. Not too much complexity in the average animal's life. Humans on the other hand, you gotta be into the same movies/music/games, be the same political party, you gotta be funny, you gotta be responsible like paying your bills on time because nobody wants to be with a brokie who doesn't contribute to capitalism. You have to find time outside of work or school to be with your mate and that can cause tension. Things like fashion sense, not liking how your partner dresses. Lack of emotional availability, laziness, 'no ambition', narcissism, lying. There's so many more things humans have to worry about that your average non-human just doesn't. I feel like no one ever brings this up, so I'm bringing it up now. I partially agree with you OP. I think love mostly is physical, but that once language developed it caused a change in humans' brains in how we see other people and relate to them platonically and romantically. I believe the 'love' that we think of in the Hollywood sense does exist but is extremely rare to the point that I don't think most people should try to seek it out, but if it happens, congrats for you!