Re:Why Online Dating (Still) Sucks, and a Simple Attempt at ...
by rogerbinns on Wednesday February 22, 2012 @03:25PM
(#3622321)
You wouldn't have a lot of happy buyers - you'd have far fewer. You are assuming that everyone on a dating service has a good match on that same dating service, which isn't the case. From the business side you have a choice, get a small amount of money from most participants or get a large amount from very few. Even if the totals are the same, the latter is far more risky.
There are quite a few human run expensive dating agencies. It is what rich people use. This one for example costs about $100k to sign up.
http://www.orlythematchmaker.com/
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2008-02-12-matchmakers-main_N.htm
If there was a way to reliably match people algorithmically, we'd have seen it implemented by now. Sure, people would leave the site faster, but it would also provide an EXTREMELY in-demand service, allowing such a site to charge massive one-time fees.
If I sold a bona fide 95+% chance of finding one's perfect mate for say $1000, then I would have a LOT of happy buyers. Problem is, it can't be done. Or at least it would require some kind of human-level AI.