rationalfrummie,
I am talking about pleasure derived because the other person is of an opposite gender. And we are talking about real issurim (according to R’Moshe it is d’oraisa, according to most poskim d’rabbanan). We aren’t matir issurim because they cause awkwardness.
And, as WIY said, awkwardness doesn’t last very long (especially if the boy/girl has a good dating coach).