Some states have putative father registries, and if the putative father does not add his name to the registry he risks losing his right to notice of adoption proceedings (the specifics vary by state).
For step-parent adoption where paternity was not established by marriage, acknowledgment or prior legal action, Michigan has a standard petition form for adoption proceedings by which a mother can ask a court to identify a putative father as the child's father and terminate his parental rights within a single hearing. The grounds upon which a judge may terminate the putative father's rights are outlined in the associated standard order form.
None of which is to challenge your larger point. This is information that may be useful in the future.

