When the network is congested, your transaction entering the mempool is basically "taking a number and waiting in line." Miners/validators don't look at who you are; they only see who offers a bigger tip and who can be more easily included in a block. So you might experience: constantly pending, suddenly replaced (with the same nonce), or even sent out but slowly cooling at the back of the queue... Not to mention there are people watching whether your transaction can be snatched.

I usually compare it to taking a taxi during rush hour: submitting an order just puts you in the waiting pool, and the platform will prioritize dispatching cars to those who pay more or have a more direct route; if you don't pay extra, you can only wait, and after waiting, your order might even be canceled by the system. Basically, the "slow confirmation" during congestion is just surface-level; behind it is a matter of sorting and prioritization.

Recently, the NFT royalty dispute also feels similar: everyone says they support creators, but when secondary liquidity gets stuck, the system still favors the "more profitable orders" to go faster... Anyway, the market is just so realistic. To protect yourself, don't stubbornly hold on; pay enough gas, and don't chase the market with naked transactions during congestion.