What benefit or life experience do you get sitting in your apartment, or even in public, swiping left on thousands of faces in the hopes of one matching, vs. the alternatives like participating in other relationships, growing, developing skills, enjoying activities, and living life? Like gambling, the winnings only seem free when you ignore the opportunity cost.
Obviously, enjoy your winnings if you have them. I've met some great women on the apps as well, and mainly I benefitted from how they were so unhappy with what they had they were looking for literally anyone else, but ultimately that unhappiness didn't change. As a life strategy the apps are as wishful and passive as reading your horoscope for lucky numbers and imagining what you would do if you won the lottery.
there are no time requirements on dating apps. you could spend a few minutes a day looking for matches and still go out and do all the activities you listed.