Comment on I get complaints about Frontiers by GE

I have been contacted by a Frontiers Editorial Project Manager who wanted me to propose a subject for a research topic based on a recent publication of mine. When I asked her under what journal would this research topic be published, whether she had discussed the possibility of this publication with the editor of the journal she had in mind, and how many research topics are already open under that journal, I received a reply from a different person. This was an Editorial Assistant who did not answer any of my questions but very generally told me that my topic could be on anything I like, provided that it does not overlap with already open subjects. Once I have a full proposal, the topic I choose will be evaluated by the editor of the journal I pick. So clearly they email generic invitation messages to many researchers and capitalize on those who need visibility. Is this *borderline* predatory behavior? It seems to me they’re past that.