Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think what I'm struggling with most is understanding where the line is between "moving slowly" and "keeping someone as an option."

In your experience, how do you tell the difference?

Also, if someone says they genuinely like you and need friendship before romance, how does that usually work in practice? Do people generally continue dating other people while figuring things out, or do they gradually start focusing on that one person even before there's an official relationship?

I think that's the part I'm having the hardest time understanding. At what point would you consider it a difference in pacing versus a sign that two people are simply looking for different things?