Dating as an average man isn't really that hard

Context: I'm in my late 20s, average looking, short (5'6), far from rich, got some issues...

I think I've had a pretty decent dating/sex life. I've had 4 serious relationships, a few hookups, and I'm now married.

I think a lot of men just try too hard and focus too much on apps.

All of my relationships and hookups have been women I already knew (classmates, friends, coworkers, friends of friends etc). The attraction is never instant, being average means I take some time to grow on people before they realize they're attracted to me.

It's usually the same pattern... at first I'm just a friend, some guy they know, etc. We click in some way, maybe a similar sense of humor or hobby or even hate the same things... we talk more, joke a lot, spend more time together I'm groups and eventually one on one. Alcohol enters the picture. Someone makes a move.

Getting to know women in real life is by far the best way to have success if you're average.

I tried the apps, zero success, just rude rejections and ghosts.