I watch a lot of relationship-type shows as guilty pleasures: Bachelorette, Married at First Sight, and yep, mail order bride documentaries.

On the last one, what I notice is that on face, it's the bare, raw, exposed relationship dynamic that is somewhat upheld in the RP community--women (ones who place a higher than average premium on looks) exchange sex and their femininity for financial security and "a better life." But in spite of both genders adhering to these core tenets, these relationships are rarely satisfying and it seems they seldom work out.

And it makes me wonder... why? Why don't these relationships work out? I also observe that it's mostly the women who ultimately back out. Is it that the men who pursue this option tend to be bottom of the barrel? Or is there some type of glue that holds the average relationship together that's missing in these relationships (respect, a long period of dating, etc)?

I've heard it said that Eastern European women are more "desirable" a mate than many Western women. Do you agree or disagree with this?

I'm not positive where I'm going with this thread but I thought there were so many interesting relationship dynamics at play that were worthy of discussion here.