>>148962
Your first few sentences could be copied word for word about my life. It still applies mostly; if you ascribe to the alpha-beta social dynamics description of social species, I'd be considered a sigma male. Not an alpha, not a beta, a kind of lone wolf on the outside of the system who does what he wants and doesn't seek to conform (like you though, I really wanted to be accepted up until maybe 24 or so).
>This leads me to believe that the majority of the information around the internet about incels and height standards are false
They aren't. I'm 6 feet 1.5 inches. You and I are at the absolute sweet spot of height. Your issues with women have absolutely nothing to do with your height and I can 110% guarantee that. The good news is that your issues are fixable, the bad news is that like lifting, it takes time, effort, and learning. You need to learn how female evolutionary psychology works and how certain behaviors evoke/create attraction in them. If you want a couple easy to digest videos on that, search for "Psychology of Attraction" by Todd V, and "The art of game" by the same guy.
The basic answer is that appearances matter a shit ton to men, but not a whole lot to women; good looks gets you a free pass to start playing the game, it does NOT give you an instant win card. It gets you a foot in the door, you still need to perform properly. Guys who are 8/10 get will still get rejected if they spill their spaghetti.