Exactly, you should make your own judgement, based on your personal circumstances, including how agreeable you are.
In terms of dating, when I engage in that, I aim for pure companionship. It always struck me as wrong to use another person, either for intimacy or even as an emotional crutch. Relationships, when they do happen, usually last quite a while but may be a different experience for the other person involved, from their previous relationships.
However, these are personal anecdata. Is it so hard to look at the statistics and results and make your own conclusion?