I've only dated sparsely throughout my life, so I'm probably the worst person to be reflecting on what role romance plays amidst my existence.

But, through reading what you've described here, I do relate to you in a parallel way -- in terms of people who pursue me in terms of platonic friendships.

For some reason, I seem to be a magnet for the neediest and most insipid personality types amongst friend-searchers. I've only recently begun to improve at establishing my boundaries with these types.

So, although I can't speak to what it's like on the romance/dating front (due to my lack thereof), what you're chronicling certainly resonates with me in terms of people who attach themselves to me as aspiring friends.