Like you said, can be a million different reasons. Sometimes it takes a few dates to see if you really like that person. Sometimes the first date is fun, but the one after someone changes their minds. Some guys can't handle rejection very well, so the girl thinks this is easier and prevents a confrontation. Waste of time wondering about it.
Don't fall in the trap of blaming people for this. It only leads to bitterness and frustration. Think of it this way: you had a few dates and those were fun right? So no matter what happens in the future, at least you went out and got a few nice days out of it. And if the dates weren't fun, then there was something wrong anyway.
I don't know about the girls have all the power thing. Yes, it is mostly the guy arranging the date, but plenty of times girls suggest going out or make a move also. Really depends on the person and the situation. And if the only risk is someone saying 'no', then really, what do you have to lose by being the one stepping forward and asking.
Oh, I know not to get into a negative spiral. I actually have a heap of Female friends, and I am definitely a "go with the flow" kind of guy, when it comes to socialising/dating.
On the other hand, I fully stand by the girls have the final say. I would love for someone to prove me wrong, but it just isn't going to happen. It's not so much as me being bitter, but it does take it's toll when you know that you can only just be yourself and hope for the best, but you don't actually have any real control over where things go, at times.
Women often just enjoy the attention and company.
Maybe she wasn't looking for a relationship to begin with. Just move on, like ClosingADoor said.
If you keep hitting the same wall, try spicing things up a little. Get more physical (you need to set things up for that first obviously), show your intentions more straightly and idk what you exactly where going for with 'the talk' but do not ask them verbally what they have in mind with this 'relationship' after a mere three dates. It's super scary for most women because then they actually have to take a side and decide for themselves. Oftentimes they just pull back. All they want is to feel desirable.
I don't mean to be harsh, but you fully contradicted yourself there, within the first few sentences...
What I was confused about, was the whole being upfront and showing vs. going with flow and letting things happen organically. If I have to be the one to make the moves (let's be real, that seems to be the standard), then how can I do so whilst worrying about all this "how she may or may not feel" stuff?
Like I said, I am new to this, but I am also 100% confident in being myself and not wasting a whole lot of time fluffing around with maybes and hypothetical feelings.
EDIT: I re-read everything... I didn't initiate 'the talk' with this Lady, she did. All I did, was get up and ask to sit next to her, instead of directly opposite. It was the most subtle way I could think of, to gauge if she had any sort of physical attraction/ chemistry with me. Turns out she doesn't. All good, water under the bridge. It was just surprising, given the the other signs/signals/set up.
I understand that there is a time and place for subtly, but if I am going to be setting up a heap of one-on-one time, in a very dating context, then I think I am entitled to know (black and white) whether or not the other party has any remote interest in a possible romantic direction. If they don't, no worries, I welcome more friends into my life. But if that is the case, I expect them to actually be friends, mates, and not this whole keeping me at arms length so they can enjoy dating without any sort of commitment/giving the same energy back.
Please correct me if I am way off base, but I have had close friends fully support my stance, and in my situation/age/experience it is necessary for me, so that I don't get taken advantage of, whilst missing out in a big way.