I spent most of last year on OLD, and I had an awesome time, lots of great sex. Yes, I met a couple of idiots, too, but I also had nice dates with men who were fine, but I knew it wouldn't go further (which surely is the point of going on a date, to see if you get on in person?) Even the bad ones make entertaining stories.
I do expect first dates to be 50:50 cost-wise. I suggest places to meet probably more often than men do, partly because I encourage them to come to my town, and I know what places are around (and how to get away, should it be necessar; it hasn't.) But I have also travelled to them, or met half way.
I'd rather text, but prearranged phone calls are fine. I've also done vidro calls. They can piss off if they want to call every morning, though. Fine it's genuinely urgent, but not to say hello. I've always preferred text-based communication, though, and used to write a lot of letters rather than phone people, so took to email and text like a duck to water. But I do understand we all have different communication styles. If they insist on phone calls only, we're probably not compatible, but others would welcome that.
There are some great men out there. Also some really terrible ones. There are probably some for whom I'm the terrible date story. And I'm hopeful I've had my last first date, but who knows? But being single is also fine - I've spent many years being so, so a man needs to enhance my life to become part of it.