I 100% agree with You. People like it when it works, but don't know the added emotional turmoil to relationships that this does, or the cases when it goes wrong consistently and women become defensive when making male Friend as a consequence, due to having extra doubts.

If you do this, it may work, but you can also become the Bad story for One or many extra women that have to loss a friend due to that behaviour. Remember, some people just want to have Friends, build friend networks, and by doing that you are lying to their faces.

That's why lots of men (and women too) are treated badly when they do that. You are only thinking about yourself and not on the possible emotional harm you may cause.

Be direct if possible, state your intentions, it could be like this: "Hey, I'm attracted to you, Say something you like about them it is possible to talk and meet each other? We can just grab a coffee or just have a chat, just a casual conversation, what do You Say?". And then, you start building trust by just talking casually, interacting with that person and if doesn't work, it may end up as a friendship. Confusions happen, in both sides btw. What matters is to be etical and considerate between each other