It sucks when you’re younger, because it’s such a big deal to put yourself out there like that.
It takes so much effort (and time) to work up the courage to make the move, that you wind up invested in someone who has no clue. When they reject you, it’s like a break up, it’s personal and it hurts because you care and they don’t.
As you get older, you stop making such a big deal of it, and just throw it out there early on. Since you’re not invested, it’s no big deal if they reject you, shrug and move on.
Point is, it’s a win-win to be more up front. You protect yourself from getting invested in someone who isn’t interested, and if they are interested, you don’t waste any time.