I used to think it was really creepy and archaic, but an Indian friend of mine says that it was a real load off of her shoulders to just leave it up to her parents to put the work in, and she says she's happy with the man they found for her. Still wouldn't be for me, but I at least now see it as an acceptable option for people who want it. I doubt it's a fun topic of discussion when the kid doesn't want it but the parents do, but that's not unlike already existing contested topics like career choice and grandkids.
So kind of lazyness/complacency regarding obligations pressured by others. They're basically describing solutions to a problem they shouldn't have in the first place. Still seems shitty.
Well, yeah, in an ideal world a person should be able to pursue an education and a career and still have time to pursue romantic interests as well, but that's not really the world we live in, at least not for a lot of people. If someone wants to really devote themselves to their career instead of spending time dating, and their parents want to handle the hunt for a good partner, it doesn't sound like a bad arrangement so long as everyone's happy.
Again, it's not for me, and I'd imagine it's not for a lot of people, but so long as everyone's given a choice and this is what they choose, I think it's fine. Yes, I'm sure not everyone is truly given a choice, but that would be the issue with this: not arranged marriages in general, but specifically the idea that a child must obey their parents regardless of their own aspirations.