I agree that keeping in touch is easier by long distance, but I'm not sure how much value that contact really has. Ultimately, someone has to commit to moving to a new area in the hopes that things will be in good in person as they were by long distance. That's still a big gamble, and people who haven't been successful locally are going to have a hard time finding the confidence to gamble.
Bill
I agree it is a gamble and it is up to the individual to decide which risk is worth taking.
I just don't even know where to start looking for members of the opposite sex locally, I just moved to Alabama from New Jersey.