how does one project value other than looks and physique I get it's career

Depends on the age bracket of girl you're dealing with but speaking abstractly since the different approaches measure different metrics of value at first, a lot of value is observable: (height, symmetry, torso, fashion, build, your social interactions with others, lifestyle, charisma, how much others value you, your archetype). You don't want to be the guy that leads with paystubs or your fancy career. You can get pussy without telling them your career. Unless they ask, it probably won't help and can come off try-hard.

much of dating takes place online

Unless you have incredible pictures of yourself where you are displaying physique in a subtle way, top 10 percent looks, social acuity, and your archetype AND YOU ALSO live in a very urban area, I wouldn't even bother. You have to have top 5 percent of profiles to get any results. In my experience the SMV of girls I can get from dating apps are quite a bit lower than cold approach or social circle game. Also girls on dating apps are more likely to be low quality/recreational use only.

should I cut off social media by social media I mean insta reddit etc and try focusing all my efforts irl cultivating a social circle

You're not going to be getting any pussy off of reddit. For Instagram, you maybe can if you have a few thousand followers and you definitely can if you have tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands. I'm assuming you don't since you're posting this question, so unless you have a solid plan to invest and build that following, social media is a waste of time for you. Social circle game is definitely worth investing in and is my main pipeline other than cold approach. Spend as much time socializing around young people as you can, opportunities will come out of the woodworks (unless your social circle is a bunch of fat neckbeard DnD dungeon masters, in which case time for more new friend groups).

I have read how to win friends and influence others by dale Carnegie

Books like this are a waste of time, don't read about how to socialize, just go socialize. Comedy podcasts or specials from people that aren't autistic do help. If you are going to read, read TRP's sidebar and whatever of MRP's sidebar is relevant to you.

cold approach although it's nerve wrecking with zero successes thus far it's still a confidence booster like lifting

First, of course cold approach is scary, but is the fear of cold approach worse than the unhappiness you currently feel with your dating life? Pick your path. Doing nothing is still a choice you make. You are going to suck at first, you've never done it. Read into coffee daygame, Krauser, or watch Coach Kyle or Austen Summers. The benefits of cold approach are immeasurable. Once you start doing it, there are so many that benefits that will come to you that you could have never expected. Know that it is an insane learning curve, though it is definitely worth doing. As you are now, you will have success with cold approach in time, but working on your value will make it easier and quicker to get results.

how do you manage and sustain more than two plates

read this

I've come a long way but I'm still not in the top category of men not even in the top 30 percent.

The sidebar contains the instructions for the assembly of a top percentile man. Lift (if fat lose weight, if skinny gain muscle), eat a diet of whole foods, work on your style, get a good haircut, groom your facial hair, look up a general hygiene guide, if your teeth are fucked get Invisalign/veneers, socialize as much as possible, and then start cold approaching. Jacking off is whatever but you have more important things to do than playing with your pecker. Do them.

Should one even consider online dating?

No.

what I consider to be 3x per week

Weird phrasing dude.... is it 3x per week or not?

how does one project value other than looks and physique

confidence. talking well. passing shit tests. communicating clearly. breaking your post into paragraphs.

I get it's career and so much of dating takes place online and idk I have mixed experiences but I want to know from you guys in one extreme or other should I cut off social media by social media I mean insta reddit etc

insta is probably not social media, reddit too.

they CAN be..... but in your case.... you are probably just consuming content and looking at ads rather than participating, so it's not really social in any way.

and try focusing all my efforts irl cultivating a social circle

yes

(I have read how to win friends and influence others by dale Carnegie),

that book is dumb

cold approach although it's nerve wrecking with zero successes thus far it's still a confidence booster like lifting.

right. keep doing it.

Let me know guys thanks all.

One more thing at some point I feel like I want to ask "how do you manage and sustain more than two plates". Sometimes porn masturbation and orgasm feels like the only variable remotely even similar to sex. I've come a long way but I'm still not in the top category of men not even in the top 30 percent.

Ok... should you do online dating: yes if it works for you, drop it if it doesn't. It's that simple. Getting 3 dates a month for 20 minutes effort? Keep it. Wasting 3 hours a day and never meeting anyone? Ditch it.

How do you sustain more than two girls at a time? (please don't call them plates, girls are fucked up but they are not crockery). ...... don't worry about this until you have the chance to find out.

So:

online - yes if it works

cold approach - yes, even if it fails

build a social circle: absolutely yes. this is your biggest benefit to dating and friends that you can do.