I really appreciate your perspective on this. My problem with tradition of men always paying for dates is that young men are usually the ones dating and most young men are poor. I believe there are social pressures that compel young men to appear not to be poor. I believe this often causes them to make bad long term decisions in order to 'get the girl'. For example, they may decide take a adequate paying fulltime job now instead of finishing college for a career and a better paying job later. That's probably off topic and another conversation.

The first date is usually the date most likely to end with a 'thank you but no thank you.' result. If young women (also poor) bear the cost of the 'thank you but no thank you' result, it's just as unfair.