Some years back Nautilus, the GNOME file manager, had the default view configurable in preferences and controls in the window to override the default view per directory. I think there was a 3rd way to configure the view. Anyway if I recall correctly how it was implemented at the time was a confusion for users, a source of bugs and a maintenance burden. I don’t know if future rework is planned but for right now the window controls change the default view and there is no per-directory override.
The file chooser window got an overhaul with GNOME 44, adding a grid view option for GTK 4 apps: GNOME Release Notes. If you’re on an older GNOME version or are using an app that isn’t using GTK 4 it would not have the grid view option.
A further overhaul is underway, to make Nautilus provide the file chooser window in a future GNOME release: #153 Proudly Colorful · This Week in GNOME.