"I've been listening to your conversation" is not a good way to start. There are some exceptions, but even then you're starting on thin ice and have to ease into it.

i date actively.

most women expect you to pay your way into their company. in my city they had a poll, 80% of women expected a man to pay for a nice (expensive) first date otherwise he wasn't worth dating. only 20% of women disagreed with this.

They also polled the men. The male split was 60/40. The hosts on the show where they did the poll had their mind blown how rabidly sexist the women were and immediately went on about how stupid it was and how men and women should each pay their own way until a relationship is established.

Yeah, I think the way it was handled in the greentext was way more natural and sincere. No idea why it's considered creepy. Buying some random woman a drink is just cringy.