Are there simpler and faster ways to load balance instead of choosing the least loaded backend?

Yes, there are simpler and faster load balancing methods than choosing the least loaded backend:

• Round Robin — a simple cycle through the list of servers without considering load, suitable for even distribution when servers have similar characteristics.
• IP Hash — selecting a server based on the hash of the client's IP, ensuring session persistence on the same server without additional state.
• Random — choosing a server at random, simple and fast, but potentially less even.

These methods do not require constant load monitoring and are quicker to implement, but may be less accurate under uneven load or performance differences among servers.