I can't speak for everyone else but when I started to get into the pickup scene, I was a 4-5 with no fashion sense, terrible hair and hygiene and ZERO confidence. I'm more confused how someone who's an 8-8.5 could have ANY problems getting women. You're literally in the percentage cutoff for hypergamy, you don't have to do anything but not be weird. I'm like a 6.5-7 now and get girls around that as well but it took me a lot of effort and time to get to that stage. I'm not sure what use your post is to anyone.