Yes I see your point I know literally hundreds of people who have become friends and acquaintances over the years and I feel no embarrassment in telling them how nice they look or how well they look and it is always genuine and always appreciated
Of course I would not address a complete stranger in that way.

Someone up above remarked that "this is not a game", I think it was Steve, but relations between the sexes ARE in many ways a game and females are as often the "cat" as the "mouse" :0)