I agree that detailed initial messages are probably too time-expensive for the additional info communicated, especially given the high probability that the send

I agree that detailed initial messages are probably too time-expensive for the additional info communicated, especially given the high probability that the sender has some clear deal breakers from the recipient's point of view. But I'm not as pessimistic about detailed profiles as you are. In my experience, the emphasis on detailed profiles has been at least partially effective for OkC. My first-date signal-to-noise ratio has been much better there than on Tinder, Bumble, etc., to the extent that I rarely bother with the latter. Dating apps are simply not going to be able to change people's deep seated preferences and biases. Better and more realistic goals are just (1) to avoid wasting people's time when preferences make a match impossible and (2) allow people who would like to match based in part on non-superficial features (longer, more detailed profiles) to do so. I'm worried that we're moving toward an equilibrium where (2) is not available on any dating app.