This has become much more common with the widespread use of Internet dating, since everything begins with the Talking Stage there. And so many Talking Stages end because so many participants are having several of those stages at the same time, all parties on their best behavior, so one can never really "choose" who the best option will be, especially when their goal is a date on a Thursday. It is an odd thing when we mourn a failed relationship that never was, but as you said, I think it would be weirder to pretend like it wasn't real just because it didn't progress.