cutting out porn+masturbation versus porn+masturbation+dating+sex?

I have been on a positive streak of no porn and no masturbation. Under 2 weeks at this point.

I've noticed that doing this leads to my seeking to go on more dates. I recently went out with a girl from online dating, got some, I don't want to "date" her but found her enjoyable enough to hang out with and enjoyed the sex as well.

The biggest downside of all this is the dating apps I see are:
(1) some amount of compulsivity in checking them, responding to them, noticing emotional responses (e.g. "oh this is going well maybe this will go somewhere! oh dang, she's not responding now...!") its not feeling out of control but I wonder if there would be additional benefit to just cutting it out and accepting no sex for a period of time
(2) I may get myself into a zone of sleeping with girls who I'm not wanting to date, but then finding it hard to bump up out of that comfort zone when it develops

I am curious if others have experimented with both. I don't have PIED or anything like that, I think many on nofap have reported that with girlfriends, partners, etc, I would say my biggest problem is more around not having close relationships, haven't had a GF in a few years now.

Thoughts, opinions, experiences?