I thought "essential" cookies didn't even need consent? Either way, cookie consent nonsense and the banners caused by it are a blight whose benefits ("solving"

I thought "essential" cookies didn't even need consent? Either way, cookie consent nonsense and the banners caused by it are a blight whose benefits ("solving" the absolute non-problem of advertisement tracking) pale in comparison to the enormous collective inconvenience and wasted developer hours they've caused us all. It's sad that we look at a banner that's not as bad as it can be and appreciate it, like someone saying their spouse only hit them three times today instead of ten.