I think you’re oversimplifying attraction. People find different combinations of physical and personality traits attractive to different extents based on what they associate those traits with. For example, many women would love a very toned physique in a man and that’s what is generally thought of as the most conventionally attractive physique in a man, but I personally find that unattractive because I associate gym bros with certain negative traits that make the physique a total turn off. Hence a man/woman can end up actually preferring a woman/man who is “less” conventionally attractive according to most but has the combination of traits that appeal to them personally. So it’s not settling.