General musing on modern dating:
Yes, it’s traditional that a man picks up the tab. Carry over from early Industrial Age, when a man already established in his career would be courting a lady who still lives with her parents and not expected to ever work.
Nowadays, when it’s dating between two more or less peers. A lady, unless she’s a total gold-digger, would have her own career, and possibly make more money.
It’s a nice gesture for a man to pick up the tab, but should it really be “expected”? Is there a reciprocal action “expected” from the lady?