This is easy to test. Create 6 dating profiles: Looks: (1) below average, (2) average, and (3) above above. Then, man vs woman. Now watch what happens. There are lots of YouTube videos of people who have done it. It is stunning how much more attention goes to the most attractive men. Average and below attractive men will get almost zero attention. If you go deeper, and continue past the like to a conversation, it becomes more striking.