Your friend makes an interesting point that I happen to agree with and have had a similar philosophy about once I "got it" and it all clicked with me when it came to getting women in college. I spent my entire high school career learning from this website, trying and failing, and eventually once I reached that plateau and achieved one of my longest life challenges and goals, I began to take a different perspective on the whole thing. Once the novelty wears off, it's only natural to try and climb the next big mountain.
Take Theordore Roosevelt or Windston Churchhill and compare them to a pick up artist like that one old guy from 5 years back or something - Mystery I think it was. There is no doubt in my mind that Mystery probably has had sex with more attractive women than both Theo and Windston combined - granted the times and social constructs were different then, but I'm confident even in today's day and age they still would come up short because that's not where their priorities are. Who would you say are the alpha males in this scenario? Who will history remember as being immortalized as powerful men of action, even long after their deaths? The answer is hardly a mystery.
There is way more to life than trying to go around sticking your pathetic little **** into as many girls as you can. But that's just my take. I think the biggest irony of all is that these PUAs devote themselves completely and utterly to putting women as the measurement of success and basis of their life - literally putting them on a pedestal.
I would call those people beta males, but again, everyone has different priorities and goals in life and everyone will have different answers. I don't mean to group this kind of "beta male" in even remotely the same realm as an AFC beta male, to me they're different levels. I'm sure there are plenty of people that I would call beta males that have slept with women that would shoot me down, but again, my priorities shift. I lost interest in the science of kino, pickup artistry, etc. once I had the success I wanted and now having that knowledge I just "be myself" while I work on my other goals. And granted, I'm not fvcking 10+ girls every two semesters like I was in college, but it's landed me in some very wonderful and fulfilling relationships.
Women love status and power, and the alpha male is the leader of the pack. I think your friend is also right about alpha males having to keep up with appearances and don't take as many risks as someone who isn't in that kind of position of power or notoriety. Alpha male or not, it's still a numbers game and the one who wants to play it more will inevitably come out on top. Same reason why 99% of the popular celebrities who you think would be rolling in pvssy because of all their fan girls and fame avoid these guaranteed easy lays like the plague. One wrong move or one crazy girl and suddenly you're on the front page of TMZ.
Hmm. Writing all of this has got me thinking about what I wouldn't give to be able to sit down and talk with Pook, and just get a glimpse into his mindset now, a decade later.