If a guy asks me on a date [if I were single], I would expect he pays. If I ask him, I pay. Actually, this is how it works in polite society. I have male friends and this is exactly how we do it.
If someone asks me on an expensive date and turns out they can't really afford it, I would come to some compromise (so noone is embarrassed) but I would take it as a bad indication of his judgement. People should only take others on dates that are within their budget.
The whole M-F 'equality' issue is silly. Of course the sexes aren't equal. That doesn't mean inferior/superior, just different. Mutual respect is what is important. If we were completely equal, what would we need each other for?
Second thoughts can generally be amended with judicious action; injudicious actions can seldom be recovered with second thoughts.
--Cyteen by C.J.Cherryh