Awesome article and well said.

I agree.

Another factor in this is common scenario where the “not-nice” guy in the picture is not interested romantically in the woman who is the object of the nice guys affection.

So the “nice” guy pines for the woman, who is (seemingly) pining for the “not nice” guy (who is far safer and more attractive coming from a place of a no romantic interest), and the nice guy creates a narrative where the not nice guy is a jerk for not desiring, but being liked by, the woman the nice guy wants. And where the woman is foolish for choosing that jerk over him. A story that serves as a salve for the ego.