One should only ever date strangers. If one should date and then break up with a friend, one could potentially lose a friend-maybe even a good friend. He may lose many friends as acquaintances choose sides. If one should date and break up with a stranger met once, at worst, he loses a stranger. (… or even gain friends.)
Apparently, as a musician in the real world I'm not worth paying unless I can play a guitar or piano. Wish someone told me this before I got a degree in Voice.