Hypnotic Pattern (lvl 3 spell) seems worse than Hold (levl 2? spell)

[(Rúna)]

I'm just leveling up my Bard and have access to level 3 spells. The selection seems really underwhelming when compared to the options available on level two, so I must be missing an understanding here, because choosing another level 2 spell currently seems better? That cant be right.

For isntance Hold stops the target doing anything for 10 turns, I think it has an 18 metre range, and is , i think, level 2. Maybe even level 1? But level 3 I see hypnotic, it stops them from doing anything BUT only lasts 2 turns? Why would I waste a very limited slot on that when I could feasibly get more uses from a more effective spell at a lower level?

Theres also Bestow Curse choice on level 3, but level 2 has Blindness. Both last 10 turns and give disadvantages to target on attacking and defending, except it ooks like the level 3 Curse spell is 'either/or' with the effects and the level 2 blindness is both - attacking it has advantage, and its attacks are disadvantaged.

So I'm not quite getting it. There's probably some D&D pros here rolling their eyes at me because im missing something obvious, but I'm sitting here stuck on leveling up because I cant see what would be most effective for my Bard (lvl 1 life cleric / lvl 5 bard, to be specific). I use them mainly for ranged support, buffs & debuffs, and utility, but they are able to do a bit of damage and not entirely squishy