The games I like grinding in (Factorio/Satisfactory, survival games) and with guilds (World of Warcraft) are not the same I spend money in. I feel it's unfair to use another unrelated comment of mine and make assumptions on that.
The rest of the mechanics (especially the ones making me spend money) I have no problem calling dark patterns.
Then the site mostly agrees with you on that, and I do as well. These things are only dark patterns because they usually interlock with the money sinks. I'd say they still mostly cater to an addictive personality, but it's a very mild vice when the game's design doesn't follow the incentive to cash in on that.
The rest of the mechanics (especially the ones making me spend money) I have no problem calling dark patterns.