Assuming you're a guy, I find it hard to believe that any man would have the mentality that approaching a woman puts the man at a "disadvantage". (Maybe I need you to elaborate what you meant by that)
As a man you should know that YOU are the hunter. You go get what you want.
As a man you should also know that women love boldness & aggressiveness. Walking up to a lady respectfully, introducing yourself and dropping a light compliment makes you more attractive IMMEDIATELY in her eyes.
Not saying its always gonna work, but women like being hunted. Women like to be pursued. Its how its always been since the beginning of time.
If men stopped being the more aggressive and waited on "signs", the worlds population would decrease dramatically because its NOT in a woman's DNA to hunt down the opposite sex. That's OUR role as men.
If you approach and make it clear that you're feeling her, THEN its up to her to give back signals that she's open for further interaction. If no signals, KIM.
Maybe I'm just from the old-school but I feel that its a mans role to pursue. I can't get with y'all "bu but but why can't women approach
" mentality