that anyone would ever use it to date someone.
Ah but in a way, dating is getting to know someone and talking with them online is just another way of learning more about each other.

Exactly. The online world is full of deception just as the "real" world is.
But then the only way to completely protect yourself from being deceived is to avoid contact with other humans. And where's the fun in that?

That doesn't happen too often. :)
Yeah I get the impression it was even rare in their age group. Neither my mom's younger brother or sister had arranged marriages.