But opening direct in a calm, collected and confident manner in daygame is part of A2 (DHVing). Having the balls to open like that is a huge DHV because most guys in the world cannot do that. You have to be able to overcome (not care about) massive social pressure to do that which in itself indicates high value.
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So is it any surprise that indirect has better ratios??
I have a friend who's a part-time DJ. He has no clue of any seduction pick-up terminology, slang and methods.
He's not hitting on random people because he knows that he can instead approach indirect while working (being a DJ is somehow consider a big DHV by girls, not because of the salary (which is not that significant btw) but due to highlighting social proof. All girls in the venue already know that you are surrounded by women, and not some mildly autistic dude with zero credibility (there is no social proof in streetgame).
In part I agree with your first paragraph, as the way you approach (street, mall whatever) significantly matters, but since women get approached all the time (in a calibrated manner or not, 99% of the time completely uncalibrated, like John from accounting trying to slide in her pants or by being cat-called) its tough to reach a solid hook point in the first minute of the conversation, let alone not let her blow you off. If there was social proof, the outcome would be different.