I've met, in person, only one person from HA so far, for social and business reasons. I've also chatted, online, with a number of folx from here that I someday hope to meet in person. I would not be surprised to learn that people I have already met, in person, lurk here.
I've had a couple of intense relationships (One with a GG, one with an IS) that began online (Not here in HA), so this world is what you make of it. These daze, anout 99% of the people I meet are via online encounters.