Economy has to be uncomfortable to upsell to premium economy and business. Huge demand for those cabins and massive money makers. There will never be a minimum seat pitch regulation unless directly and obviously related to safety

Just pay up for comfort+ seats if you are in US - they are generally pretty affordable.

Much bigger problem is that in EU you get 28” pitch on BUSINESS class seats! The only difference is that middle seat is blocked. This frankly should be illegal.