Normal people do this all the time. They just don't verbalize it.

I don't think so.

I think it's a good idea to generally be assertive and friendly with your posture and eye contact. This will generally lead to better interactions socially. These interactions will sometimes include members of whichever sex you prefer. And these people will sometimes be attractive to you. (They might sometimes be attracted to you...)

But there is something distinct between this and the sort of "romantic validation" one might get from an actual relationship. You could argue the difference is only a matter of degree, but it is still significant...significant to the level it is weird to think you are getting anything resembling bona fide "romantic validation" from playing some kind of intentional eye contact/smile reciprocation game with strangers you deem to be "attractive" and then deluding yourself into believing there is a romantic connection happening.