When I tried speed dating in the 2015 (ie when I was also younger than today by 10 years), they had these cards where you would have to fill out and if there was a match then you would know about it. It was an ego-draining experience. That particular time I had visited a couple of escorts the previous month, and in contrast, that was an ego-boosting experience. The Speed Dating event made me feel worst about myself compared to visiting a couple of escorts on December, 2014.
I also had a date with an Asian lady I met at a business event, but it didn't work out to go anywhere. It looks like I was more active with dating in 2015 (ie this was ironically during a legal seperation of my ex-wife the year before), and things cooled down afterwards. Like you, I think visiting escorts on occasion can act as a catalyst because it shows on some level you really want a woman, and that can sometimes lead to movements where you now find yourself trying to meet more women. As you had mentioned, your free sex came as well when you had been visiting escorts, so you also had short-term confidence boosts by having nice encounters there that spilled over in having free sex with other broads.
The thing is, given today's climate, the war in the Middle East, high cost of living, and fact I believe the end of the world is going to happen very soon and people are preparing for what will be explained as a mass disappearance before all hell breaks lose on here, it is not very motivating for me. I'm already fighting escort/porn and fapping issues, which is a risk in and of itself. I would at least see if we make it to the next year. Suppose we don't make it past the election and something apocalyptic happens between now and before the beginning of next year for example?