I feel you
@Bingo-Player about IRL versus OLD.
Like you I would meet people IRL. In the 8 years between marriages I participated in OLD for one week, on 2 different occassions. Sum total of 2 weeks!! My GOD the time sink.
I went on 4 total dates out of the hundreds of initial messages I got.
None of the 4 men were as they had portrayed themselves. All but one were significantly shorter, none were as attractive as their photos, and only one of the shorter guys had any style at all. All had Dad bod.
Meanwhile I blew them away because I am MUCH prettier in person than in photos, and quite poised and stylish. Every one of these 4 dudes was punching above his weight, and became visibly nervous, and unsure how to behave with a real life hot, smart woman.
None of those guys got a second date.
So I blew OLD off after that & never went back.
I met each of the men I dated in IRL after that.
This is what people fail to realize. OLD remains a place where people who are not attractive enough or socially adroit enough to pull IRL go to find interactions with potential lovers. Now. I've seen attractive men who are good at text banter and conversation slay on OLD. Women constantly reach out. But that is not the typical guy on OLD.
That's a player who's feeling frugal or being a little lazy.
OLD selects toward those who aren't out socially. I always did fine out socially so once I realized what a huge waste of time it was? Nope. Gone.
Why use OLD when I can meet attractive men IRL?
Same question you are asking yourself. But my less attractive gf is 5 ish for age appropriate men (60 or so) and forgoes doing hair & nails & the gym. So she struggles.