Now, one could reasonably counter-argue that the yin strategy delivers value somewhere else, besides just e.g. “probability of a date”. Maybe it’s a useful filter for some sort of guy...
I feel like you know this is the case and I’m wondering why you’re even asking the question. Of course it’s a filter; the entire mating process is. Women like confidence, and taking these mixed signals as a sign of attraction is itself a sign of confidence. Walking up to a guy and asking him to have sex immediately would also be more “efficient” by some deranged standards, but the point of flirting is that you get to signal social grace, selectivity, and a willingness to walk away from the interaction.
I feel like you know this is the case and I’m wondering why you’re even asking the question. Of course it’s a filter; the entire mating process is. Women like confidence, and taking these mixed signals as a sign of attraction is itself a sign of confidence. Walking up to a guy and asking him to have sex immediately would also be more “efficient” by some deranged standards, but the point of flirting is that you get to signal social grace, selectivity, and a willingness to walk away from the interaction.