The Shulchan Aruch in seif 7 says two people should stand next to the chazan during selichot. We of course don't do that. Chas veshalom because halachah changes but because the situation changed: today we all say selichot together from siddurim so there's no need.
Does that mean saying selichot isn't actually obligatory and we can just rely on the sha"tz's recitation? Oh boy! Maybe that's why the shatz so often doesn't bother to let anyone know where he is or what he's saying, and even if he did, there's no way anyone could keep up.