I agree with all of that. I always try to talk to some girls that I'm not interested in, before I ever hit on a girl. I've found the difference in success is day and night, when you have another girl to introduce her to. The girl doesn't even need to be especially attractive(provided she's not a land whale). I think maybe it reassures her that you're probably not crazy/rapist, etc.
Girls are always doubting their own judgment, which is why they're so subjective to peer pressure.
Now that mostly just helps with a girl who's already into you. Honestly, I've never used pawns. Though I have used pivots. Having pretty friends has perks, as I can say that attractive girls notice when you're around other attractive women.

The bad ROI I was talking about, was a 6 going after 9s. If I was just out hounding for sex, I'd rather rack up 30 7s over 4 9s. I just personally find questing for the girls in the top %1-2 of looks to be a waste of time.
I don't know about you, but I'm not all that thrilled with anything over an 8. And mostly a 7. At that point, when I have her naked and pressed up against me, I can't say it makes much difference. I'm already completely turned on and my dick is already in "FUCK YEAH" mode and there is no higher gear.
The prettier/hotter girl is nice, but ultimately worthless when it comes to sex. I may get turned on easier with her clothes on, but when it actually comes to sex? I'd say there's little to no difference for me. And I'm skeptical there is for any guy. This isn't like some husky girl with her gut getting in your way and grunting like a hog.
So to some extent I understand wanting an 8+ as a GF or FWB or whatever, but a ONS? Meh, honestly, no. I don't see a ton of value in much over a 7. Especially not to the point where you're sacrificing far more girls to quest after this one girl who's at best, marginally better looking. That's the bad ROI, IMO.

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RSDTyler

I'm the opposite tbh. But i admit I'm stupidly shallow. I turn down 7's and don't even really feel motivated to take one home. Sure, if a 7 came to my door, i'd fuck, but at the bar, I feel like the effort to leave, drive and go home, if she's not 8 I feel lazy and non motivated. But that's my fucked up mentality lol. After sex you gotta take her home, and even the thought of that with a girl who doesnt make me feel wow isnt worth it.

For ONS, MM may not be best. But i wont say the ROI is bad. Keep in mind, if you're opening girls indirectly, bouncing around, number closing, pawning all that, you're being social at the end of the day. So maybe you don't take her home. But you have fun non sexual interactions with 10 groups, number close a few and have dates set up that lead to sex. Then you go out and meet more people. The set that you chatted with where you found out the hottie was engaged, you see them again a month later at the bar. They come up to you with a hug. More social proof for the night. Some guys like that and use it well. You're more social because you're talking to groups and not hitting on them till you access its safe to do so. Some guys play it too safe though. That's my thing with the friend zone too. Some guys have a female friend and cut her off because she doesnt want to fuck them. Well, a good female friend is worth more pussy than hers if you use her well.

I think a mix of styles is good. For eg, last night was my friend's bday so a few of us went to the bar. My one friend uses alot of MM but does direct too. So he opened a group of 2 cute girls with an opinion. They liked it, laughed and smiled but the girl he wanted dropped that her fiance something something to back up her opinion. He high fived her on being engaged, then dropped that he was thinking of proposing to his gf. So the chick is excited because here's a friendly guy and she's smiling at him as he says some bs about some imaginary gf. Then he asks her about her fiance (not to bf destroy, but to get her more excited), so she is gushing as she is talking about her fiance. He then asks her how her fiance proposed and as she's lighting up telling the story, he stops her and says, hey my ex is over there and watching me, lets talk over there at the bar, but drag me so it doesnt look like I'm being rude. So she takes his hand (since he's safe and just being fun) and drags him across the bar. Girls are seeing this hot girl look like she's chasing him. So he goes over with her talks for a few mins, she's smiling like crazy about her fiance and proposals on all that shit, he walks her back, hugs and moves on. This all was about 10 mins. But every girl in there noticed and many were looking to see if he was gonna make out with her or number close her. He just walked off like he didnt care, took note of the girls who were checking him out and later approached them directly. Got his numbers and makeouts easier and every girl he opened smiled as soon as he walked up. He's not into ONS though so didnt go for any (prgnancy paranoia). That's the benefit in MM. It gets you thinking beyond girl to girl but makes you think about how to game the whole room.