Shouldn’t it be the default and not require the suspect/subject to actually ask for one? Has there ever been any attempt to make that the norm in any countries? I think the only question should be “do you have your own lawyer you like to use, or are you happy enough with the court-appointed one?”
I’m not even sure opting out should be allowed, but I’m open to hearing reasons why that would be a bad system, or indeed a worse system than the one most countries seem to have now. So many miscarriages of justice could have been easily avoided.
You’re asking why the state doesn’t exercise your rights for you instead of waiting for you to exercise them.
On the one hand, I see your point. Just make it all part of the process. On the other hand, I have no illusions that rights and representation are going to be brought to me on a silver platter and defended by someone else on my behalf.
They very least that any citizen must be prepared to do is invoke the rights they have. It would be great if we didn’t have to. But a lot of things would be great.