Nothing wrong with demonstrative proposals if that's what floats your boat. If a couple is happy with this then other people's approval or disapproval is irrelevant.
Where problems arise is around some expectations of proposals always coming from the man. The idea of a woman sitting on her laurels and 'waiting' for this moment, thereby handing all the power of an important decision about both people's futures solely to him, <is> archaic. There's no getting away from it.
It makes sense to discuss beforehand exactly what you hope for and expect from a relationship. Communicate! It's pointless neglecting to tell your partner what you want because of certain outmoded expectations surrounding 'tradition', then being all pissed off and disappointed when you don't get it. I'd have thought this attitude a thing of the past, but it's quite surprising how many variations of 'he won't marry me' still appear on this site: usually from women who had children in the expectation marriage will happen sometime but hasn't, or from those whose partners have promised marriage with no intention of fulfilling it.
I never particularly cared about marriage. DH originally wanted that, and I agreed to it because I love him, but we're both independent professionals and parent on an equal basis. In the end we both knew how essential it was that we could order our affairs in the event of something happening to one of us, or if we became incapacitated. Without marriage these things can pose great added difficulties in already challenging situations. It's a serious covenant, not a romantic whim.
We'd been together a decade before we married, and it still amuses me that some superficial acquaintances think I 'waited all that time' for a proposal. They must be joking! I had other priorities at that time. DH always knew I wasn't going anywhere.