FDS Strategy Coach, /u/_HEDONISM_BOT, has summed up why investment is non-negotiable.

Here's what's wrong with a cheap "first date". If you are young, naive, or have had less than 5 LTR relationships (lasting 2+ years), you won't know when a man is stringing you along. You may know it and not believe it, or be too insecure to leave, because you're inexperienced at dealing with breakups effectively.

Most men who will string you along and waste your time, bullshit, fail to commit, will also generally be cheap. Because their intention for you was to fuck around to begin with, they won't want to set aside a ton of money because they plan on ghosting you now, or 3 months from now, or don't see anything longterm with you. They won't tell you that up front, because then you won't suck his dick in the backseat of his car, after going dutch on Dinner and a movie. That's why.

When you only agree to go on a date with a guy you've had time to vet, and only if he pays for dinner (like $30+ at least). You'll know he's trying to impress you, and is putting forth an effort. This creates a "security deposit", where if he's going to waste your time, it's going to be expensive for him to bullshit. If he's bullshitting, he won't be able to afford it for long, and will drop you sooner, rather than later. You will find out after 4 or 5 dates that you're seeing a fuckboy, as opposed to 3.5 years and 2 kids later. Sorry/not sorry. A man who's not bullshitting and who sees something longterm with you will do the work of courting you.

Dating is literally 80% about weeding out the bullshitters because again, every man wants his dick sucked in the back seat of his car after a few drinks, on the first date, but only a man who wants to be with you longterm will pay for dinner first, and drinks, and several extravagant dates to get there. The fuckboys will bounce after date #1, or #3 once they realize you're not going to put out without significant evidence of investment in you, from him.

A man must invest in you, extensively. Make it difficult and expensive to play you and fuck with your life.

If you have any other tips on weeding out LVM, comment below.