I "online" dated for awhile, but most of the guys I met just wanted to find a hook up... and to be honest, I wasn't really looking for anything serious. I definatley know what you're going through... been friend - zoned pretty much my whole life. fell for my bestfriend, and lets just say we hate each other now.
I also met a few people online who pretty much fell in love with me off the bat, like they had it set in their own minds that they were going to marry me. I even had one guy who told me he was going to DIE, and wanted to spend the last of his days with me... he was completely lying.
I don't know, I think you should completely end this relationship/friendship with this guy and keep looking. This guy sounds really naive and I don't think he sounds like even a good friend for you.
I thought I was going to be alone, because every relationship I ever had burned to ground in a fire-y spat. I didn't meet my husband online, I met him through friends... and some people are very successful at online dating, I wasn't and it was a huge waste of my time.
If you want to chat you cam
PM me, I'll be able to answer your questions one on one and be able to better give you advice.