I can understand why you (and others) might share this perspective, but there's more to it than meets the eye. It's really not about "playing games" ... it's actually about leveling the playing field.
Sure... in an ideal world, we could just act on impulse and tell a girl how we're really feeling (the ones we like beyond the bedroom) and call her on a whim etc... Unfortunately, psychology (and this isn't just limited to females) will give you the opposite result that you hoped for.
Some of you may think that I'm making a sexist and/or blanketed statement. I'm not. I'm simply going to explain some psychology.
Those of you that have some experience have certainly encountered this: You're in a relationship and then 'suddenly' you're now getting more attention from the opposite sex or some gal that didn't notice you before is now paying attention to you. You think to yourself... "just my luck... why is this happening when I'm already taken." The reason is simple; you are (likely on a subconscious level) projecting a different persona than when you were single. In other words, you're in a relationship and so you really don't care (in 'that' way) what an outside female is thinking. In other words, you do not appear invested (or prematurely invested) and this is a trait that women will find more attractive.
The above isn't being sexist. It's simply psychology. Here's another example:
Two kids have their eye on a special expensive bicycle. One kid has parents that buy him everything. He gets the bike the next day. The other kid ends up having to do odd jobs around the neighborhood. Instead of hanging out with friends or playing video games, or spending money ... he made sacrifices to get the same bicycle. Unlike the other kid, it took him two months to earn the cash. Now.... Which kid is likely to take better care and value his bicycle? I'm sure that you know the answer. It's the same principle as we get older and start forming relationships. You can be the "bike" that the spoiled kid will take for granted...or you can be the "bike" that will be valued; because it took some effort to achieve.
My mistakes are not isolated incidents.
@Glassguy (just like myself and many others) speak from experience. Even to this day (and I'm old,I tell ya) I will still find myself occasionally thinking ..."yeah, but this girl is different". This is a mistake. It's not about the sexes. It's psychology. Even the most humble, transparent and 'normal' female can turn into a smug and smarmy being... if we 'feed' that side of her (we drop our guard too quickly etc... ). This isn't about women that are 'damaged goods.' This applies to any woman that is not desperate for a man. I wish that it wasn't this way, but anyone with experience and enough trial and error will tell you ... it is.