Did men ever enjoy the process of "connecting" on dates? Or was it a means to an end of establishing a sexual relationship? A ritual to reach the desired goal?
Many did...though perhaps only after they'd gained some maturity, and their testosterone levels had fall from the "24/7 beer goggles" level of teenagers.
Not so much anymore.
OTOH: I know a fair number of older women. From their PoV, trying to "date" in the past couple decades or so has also gone a long, long way downhill.