It wasn't quick but the age old advice of go to hobby/activity groups, get to know people, and keep showing up eventually pays off. Also, go to shows and festivals and chat people up. I met my (one street over) neighbors at a local festival and now we hang out pretty frequently.

I would say it takes longer but isn't harder for most because using the apps harms your psyche.

Edit: I know people who have had success finding a good partner, it can be alright probably, it just isn't for me and most are owned by Match who sell your facial data to Palantir

nobody to meet on apps, nowhere safe to be around people in person

Would you take the mask off to kiss them?

Anyone who sticks up their nose specifically at the cheapness of something is not worth dating for very long. The perception that "all prospective dates are looking for an expensive arrangement that the other person pays for" is defeatist and can easily lend itself to confirmation bias, or worse.

As for masking, doing things outdoors, especially during the day, will have the same effect. And sticking to outdoors is not as much of a restriction as it may sound.

I have a friend who's a trans man, and he started dating another trans man (baby leftist) a handful of months ago, and was telling me about all these dates they did that were just anarchist calisthenics, i.e. exploring how they could break rules and taboos and social conventions. It sounded fantastic, bro is doing it absolutely right.