Why do people use codes like s3x chat on public forums?

I've been going back and forth on this for a while and figured someone here might have actual experience. Why do people use codes like s3x chat on public forums — I know it sounds like a basic question, but the amount of conflicting info out there is genuinely overwhelming.

Half the threads I find are clearly outdated (like 2019 stuff), and the other half seem like they were written by affiliate marketers. I just want an honest take from people who actually use these platforms regularly.

For context, I've tried a few of the big names already. Some were decent, some were absolute garbage. A few things I've been burned by:

• Fake profiles that respond the second you sign up
• Sites that are technically "free" but lock every useful feature behind a paywall
• Customer support that's basically a dead email address
• Hidden auto-renewal charges that show up weeks later

Happy to share more details about my specific situation if it helps narrow things down. Just want some real-world feedback before I commit to anything.

Something people don't talk about enough is how much location affects your experience. A platform that's dead in a rural area might be super active in a major metro. Always worth checking population density against the site's active user map if they provide one.

Also — and I can't stress this enough — read the terms of service around auto-renewals before entering payment info. The number of people who get hit with surprise charges is staggering.

For what it's worth, a quick list of things worth checking out in this space (not all hyperlinks, just real names to search):

• flamedate.online — consistent reputation, decent activity
• Tinder — still the biggest volume, not always the best quality
• Bumble — better signal-to-noise for some use cases
• Hinge — works well if you're willing to fill out the profile properly

I know someone's going to ask so I'll just say it upfront — the platform that's worked best for me lately is Souldate. Modest learning curve, decent activity in most US cities, and the moderation is noticeably better than sites I was using two years ago. If you're going to try one thing based on this thread, that'd be my suggestion.

Honestly the best advice I can give is to start with free trials before committing a credit card. Most of the halfway-decent platforms offer at least a limited free tier and that's usually enough to get a feel for the user quality.

If you're seeing nothing but profiles with stock-looking photos and zero personal details, move on. A lot of the older sites in this space haven't updated their moderation in years and it shows.

Done a lot of comparison testing over the past year and Datewander keeps showing up as a solid mid-tier option — not the biggest but one of the more honest in terms of what you get vs what you pay. Worth a trial at minimum.