Been there done that. Even though the wife and I started out just corresponding and neither were looking for a relationship when we first met, when we did notice something could be there, we did take a lot of flak about "mail order bride" in a derisive sense. Years later a lot of the same people told us that they wish they had as strong of a relationship.
As far as I'm concered online, mail-order, or IRL dating is just dating. The only difference is the horizons it spans and the dating pool. The chance of misinformation is equal in all scenarios. While it may be easier to falsify information online and through mail-order, trying the local scene really limits the pool of talent to draw from; and it seems to me that no matter where you are, the local pool is pretty shallow.
Conversley, though, making a long distance relationship is really tough! It's not something that can be entered lightly. Unless you're serious to see it through to the next level and have that goal in mind and are willing to do what it takes to make it there (and so is your s/o), it's not going to work.
