Before dating apps, speed dating was the de facto way to meet large numbers of potential partners. In some ways, this may have been more efficient. While dating apps provide more volume, they focus more on whether someone is photogenic rather than whether you have good chemistry.
It's hard to get a good sense of whether you'll get along based on text message conversations. On the other hand, most people have a good idea of whether they'd be interested in going on a second date within a few minutes of in person conversation.
After some text message banter, dating app users go out for drinks/coffee/tea to see if they have good chemistry. But, because each of these interactions take longer than rapid succession of speed dating, this effectively means that you can't check your personal chemistry with as many people.