I don't think I ever said looks don't matter at all. My point is looks are not everything. Looks are like money or knowing the right people. Looks will open some doors just like money will. But, if you don't have game the door will close.
I'm 48 years old and 30 pounds heavy, but it doesn't stop me from having sex with with women 30 years younger than myself. The girl I'm seeing now has a father 2 years younger than I am! Her mom is 6 years younger.
On our first date I spent $12 and we had sex after about 6 hours. I met her online. So, if you can send an interesting enough message that gets her attention and makes you stand out from the crowd anything can happen.
I've been on POF for years and I don't think I've gotten more than 10 emails from women making first contact and I wouldn't date any of them. But, I can email an 18 YO and start a conversation that leads to a phone number and first meet quickly. It took me a long time to figure it out, but I have a system now. I'll be posting on it sometime soon.