I think the observer pattern can be useful as well (though there are definitely alternatives), but for the most part you're right. Factory pattern et al exist t

I think the observer pattern can be useful as well (though there are definitely alternatives), but for the most part you're right. Factory pattern et al exist to solve problems that are introduced by OO. Get rid of OO and you no longer need to solve those problems, though of course you do still have to solve the problems that OO was introduced to solve in the first place.