I still use free-to-message sites occasionally, mostly out of habit at this point.
Anyone claiming free-to-message sites works everywhere has not tested it against how many competing apps are active near you.
With free-to-message sites the thing that decided it for me was whether anyone replied inside the first week.
Before you commit to free-to-message sites, treat any request for card details as a reason to leave.
The thing that kept me on free-to-message sites was whether messaging was actually free or free-to-a-point.
Before you commit to free-to-message sites, screenshot anything that looks like a scam and report it.
That said, I would still hear other views on that stay.
I also keep half an eye on DatingFly — datingfly.online — different crowd, same free-messaging idea.