Even if I accepted that as true (which I don't) why then work with a "system" that seems to reproduce the worst aspects of bad relationships rather than something that transcends them?
What would that be? A lot of people in the community are into reading David Deida "Way of the Superior Man" and stuff like that, there is interest in 'enlightened relationships' though ideas what constitutes such a relationship would no doubt differ. Find a 'pick-up' torrent site and it's full of yoga videos. But often we're talking about people who have not had a relationship, or maybe, like me at the time, they've been in a relationship for a while and don't necessarily want another one right away.
The thing about the book is that it's written from the POV of Neil Strauss. Neil Strauss is a complete douchebag and probably a massive liar. He apparently actually struggles to approach women and currently has a reputation for picking up where other 'mPUAS' have left off. He is your stereotype I guess. But look, he was a fucking press whore in LA - he's not a fair stereotype of anyone. Most of the characters in the book went on to have basically normal relationships, just not Neil.
Even though you will see some bizarre talk on forums, I think this is mostly bravado and an inability to find the right language to express things - I really think that it rarely truly represents the true feelings of the speaker. As others have suggested, the game has moved on and although there will always be silly guys with silly lines that pull silly girls, it's about a lot of other stuff now. There is broham/bromance obviously, nothing wrong with that.
What it comes down to, I suppose, is that one man's manipulation is another man's influence is another man's seducation is another man's suggestion is another man's coercion is another man's leading. Also, to what extent does awareness that one is playing a game entail a duty to not play it? What if the woman knows she is playing a game? What if she wants to play? What if she wants, in effect, to be manipulated?
To answer the bit about Strauss' strategy. The answer is you are right if you have 'manipulative material' to take you all the way through the 'M3 model' and you somehow actually do this. I just don't believe many people do this, or have done it. I think it's probably much more accurate and reflective to say that such an approach was used to get girls to give them a proper shot.
Just as a final point - just because some guy brags about a shag, doesn't mean he didn't enjoy it at the time or that he's not desperately hoping the girl replies to those two texts he sent because he actually really liked her.
Edit: I just realised I made a mistake in an earler post where I said Strauss couldn't actually manipulate people very well - I meant Mystery.