For what it is worth, treating it as a numbers game is the fastest route to burning out — your mileage may well differ. One thing I notice: progress is better measured in conversations than in matches — that has been consistent for me across a few different platforms. What are the free dating sites that actually work for regular people?
From my side, the profiles that get replies are the specific ones, not the polished ones — small thing, but it adds up.
Recommendation lists tend to reflect affiliate deals more than quality — that is roughly where I landed after a lot of trial and error.
The people posting about success are a tiny and unrepresentative sample — happy to be argued with on that one.