What is the consensus on cuddling? I've seen some negative stuff on here and the main sub, but I have not seen much.

I legitimately enjoy cuddling. It makes me happy to have a cute girl pulled in close to me. I like falling asleep with my arms wrapped around someone. I've always been this way. And it doesn't have to be just post-sex. I mean, if she is withholding sex or something, then I withhold cuddling and other forms of affection. However, I enjoy laying on the couch and cuddling while watching a movie. Or, for example, I have cuddled and spent the night with a lesbian friend of mine, sex was totally off the table and she isn't my type anyways (good body, but only an okay face, made worse (to me) by having numerous facial piercings), but it was nice to cuddle and I am kinda sad she moved.

But last night got me thinking about how it can look on the alpha/beta spectrum. I was messaging a girl back home I'm flirting with. I would totally hit it, maybe even LTR because she is a pretty cool chick, but she is a couple years younger than me and under the age of consent and my end-goal is to be a police officer. So for the next few months, trying to keep it at just flirting and "innocent" kino. She told me how she wanted a cuddle buddy and I told her to go get her dog, to which she replied that it's not the same as having a large man to engulf you (I am a foot taller than her and outweigh her by about 120 pounds...she's very tiny and I am a large man, and only have a few pounds to lose til my goal). So I told her to come over, knowing she couldn't since I am on vacation a few hours from home and she doesn't drive. And that's what got me thinking...

Actually cuddling with her is out since I do not trust either of us to not escalate. And, like I said, I wouldn't cuddle with someone actively withholding sex. But does it look super beta to actually really enjoy cuddling and participate in it even when there is no guarantee of sex, or when it is not post-sex? How much of a difference is it to cuddle with someone you're in some level of romantic or sexual relationship with (plate - LTR - wife) vs the beta cuddling with his oneitis hoping it will somehow lead to him getting his dick wet?

Note, never have been, have no interest in, and never will be the small spoon. It's always either 1) me big spoon, 2) me on my back and her cuddled up into me, 3) me sitting up with her up against me with her head on my shoulder or lap/legs, 4) rarely, her sitting and me laying down with my head in her lap.