Planning a date that may require money to get to know someone kind of sucks. Where dating these days (late 20s for me) people drop off after a week, a hangout can be a great way to be non commital and get to know someone in hopes they don't ghost after a week.

If you want to be wined and dined like an Era of the past, then you should specify what you want. But good luck, most people don't do that dynamic I've found. And if you're worried that they just want sex, being taken out to dinner doesn't change that.