From reading of historical novels, it seemed that, before a century ago, a girl could have multiple men competing for her hand at the same time. There would be no sex until marriage, and no exclusivity until engagement.
The above seems like a good way to arrange things. A girl would get a realistic idea of her choices, and could pick whoever seemed most agreeable.
These days, a woman will get dated by men who have no intention of marriage. She will get a very unrealistic idea of her "marriage market value" because she gets dates from men who are out of her league, but are willing to take her out when they don't have anybody better to sleep with that night, and who have no interest in being exclusively hers.
Archie and Reggie would both fight over the possibility of going out with Veronica (who gladly played them off one another).