Aishes chayil: I found your post insensitive, simply because singles need all the help they can get, and anyone who sheds light on the situation, or even tries to come up with solutions (however silly you may think them)is appreciated by singles. Anyone like that appears to be on the “side” of the singles. Anybody who mocks those efforts, would feel hurt, as if the entire struggle of that parsha is mocked. Try, if you can, to read your letter and feel as an older single would. I think you would see my point. Frankly, I don’t agree that the op’s post was any less thoughtful than yours was. On the contrary, i felt he/she made good sense.
“Yes, we must do our hishtadlus but the zivug comes WHEN its bashert and not a second before!” That goes without saying. But it is hishtadlus from down here that will make it happen. Think of it this way. The singles and families must make reasonable hishtadlus, while at the same time knowing that these are just the motions, and the bashert will come at the right time. What the OP did was suggest methods for hishtadlus. It is not his/her job to say “I dont need to do anything or think about singles, because hashem will send them their shidduch at the right time anyway.”
About your assertion that there are plenty of Shadchanim, I beg to differ, very strongly. I am referring to the RATIO that is needed for the amount of singles ka”h out there. Go check the Jewish yellow pages and compare how many realtors there are, as compared to shadchanim. And many many more people need the services of shadchanim than realtors. Non-proffessional shadchanim are by definition, part time, or whenever there’s free time. Which brings us back full circle. See the rest of my post above..