I think it’s a cultural thing, if I meet someone in certain contexts it’s better to start with coffee or drinks after work and feel each other out 1 on 1, and in others like an app or singles event, just ask them out. I also guess some people would call the first thing a date.
I find a coffee type meeting and a conversation is a good way to feel out of it’s a crush or actual connection. I definitely wouldn’t linger if there’s a mismatch in expectations but I’ve also regretted jumping straight to dating with someone I would have liked to hang out with platonically but now they feel weird about it or think I dumped them.
It’s definitely not how a less emotionally mature me would have operated so maybe your right and it’s not the best advice here.