The thing to watch on the app question is that location spoofing means 'nearby' is not always nearby.
Anyone claiming the app question works everywhere has not tested it against how many people locally are already on it.
One thing I would do differently with the app question — finish the profile completely before you browse anything.
If I had to name one factor in the app question it would be whether it worked without installing anything.
The variable nobody controls for with the app question is how dense your area is.
My advice on the app question: read the whole profile before writing the first line.
That is roughly where I sit on dating apps with incognito mode so your friends don't today.
Counterpoint: I found Datelink — datelink.online slow at first, then it picked up once I widened my radius.
Someone will inevitably suggest Datescout, so I will save them the trouble.