Removing empty downloads folder from dock freezes dock

Recently I noticed an issue that sometimes when you click the downloads folder while displaying it in folder form and the folder is empty, nothing pops up instead of the usual message (below):

Normal folder

Normal opening message (empty)

This in itself is a bug. This can be solved by removing it from the dock and then adding it again.

However sometimes (seems randomly) when I remove the bugged folder from dock by dragging it on the trash bin icon, the dock gets stuck. I am unable to click it, make it disappear, enter into launchpad or mission control. Force-quitting Finder does not work. However pressing Shift-Command-Q and relogging can resolve this.

I have confirmed that this bug exists on both MacBook Airs and Pros running Mac OS Sequoia. Prior to Sequoia, I have not noticed this problem before.

Can anyone confirm if this has happened to you as well?