So the only way I date, ever has been via on-line. If on-line dating was not a thing, I doubt I would ever have met anyone.
I think the experience really varies depending on whether you are male or female, as well as age. When I was young, on-line dating was a reach chore to find a match, talk to a woman, get a date, etc. Which made me often wonder if women who did it at a young age were looking for self-validation from men?
Now that I'm older, I have been MUCH more successful & haven't had real issues meeting & dating. In the past 2 years since my ex cheated & left me, I have been in 3 relationships & dated 4 different women. I also put a lot of effort into it as well, trying to be very much "on" when I'm on a date. It also helps that I think I'm a pretty good guy with a lot to offer, & a lot of single women at middle age have already gotten through those bad relationships, so have different expectations & wants now?
The big benefits for me with on-line dating is that 1) you already know they are looking or interested, 2) a lot of the anxiety of walking up to someone to try to connect is not there, at least not right away, 3) I find it a lot easier to get past that initial get-to-know stage via messaging than verbally, 4) its a structured environment with "rules" that is easier for me to navigate. So its been working pretty well for me.