Why is the Standard_Av2 SKU no longer available for Azure Image Builder?

I get your frustration with AIB's default settings. Even if you can select certain VM SKUs for AVD imaging (like the D4ads_v5), AIB defaults to spinning up a secondary VM with an A1_v2 type that you can't change. It's a pain when you want to utilize newer options. Hopefully, Microsoft will soon update AIB to allow more flexibility or switch to a different SKU.

The Standard_Av2 SKU is quite outdated and not very efficient, especially with the way data centers are being packed with high-performance GPUs today. You might want to consider alternatives like the Dal or Dl VM types, which offer better memory-to-CPU ratios. The Daldsv6 size is even comparable in price to Av2, and if you don’t need a temporary disk, the Dalsv6 is actually cheaper! Also, note that it seems like they have stopped offering 3-year reserved instances, which could be the reason you can't find Av2 anymore. Time is running out on those SKUs, so it might be worth exploring other options.