I became cynical about it.

Basically, I did 2 things. The first is I started mirroring the profiles of the women I saw in my city. Like, the profiles were all of them doing something fancy, or eating at an expensive restaurant, or whatever other Insta/Influencer thing they did. I took a hunch that these women were projecting what they wanted to date - attractive, well off, men with good taste and a expensive hobbies - and switched out my profile to show that. Every picture that wasn't me doing an expensive hobby was me in an expensive suit, or me in an expensive suit at some classy gala-type event.

Then I started paying for the apps.

Both got me from 1-2 likes a week to 15-20 likes a week. Then it was just a matter of filtering out the fatties, the druggies, the ones with obvious red flags, the ones that would ghost or the conversation would get dull, and picking the best couple of whatever was left. Then go on a date, and see where it leads, then repeat.

I'm in a new city, now, so I have to change my profile into 'outdoorsy, hiking, active' profile.

That's all dating apps are: sales. Just reflect what the women in your area want to date, and you'll be fine.