And if forginers are good and now otakus are good to date, are foreign otakus doubly good?
There's probably some truth to the story (based only on anecdotal evidence, which doesn't really mean much of anything). However, bear in mind that the article is unlikely to represent the views of most Japanese. It's journalistic sensationalism at work.
There're all kinds of eye-catching stories out there:
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/ar ... 6000c.html
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/ar ... 9000c.html
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/ar ... 7000c.html
While amusing or over-the-top, none of them are good generalizations about anything.
It's true that "otaku" subculture is getting more attention as of late. A couple successful novels captured media attention recently, making moe a hot topic (commercial success will do that. With the novels doing so well, people want to capitalize on moe with more products catering to "otaku", more tie-in merchandise to the novels, more eye-catching headlines, etc.). However, it's by no means a commonly accepted or mainstream thing.
The same is true for foreigners. There's a segment of the female population that prefers foreign men -> in Okinawa, locals call these people amejo (woman who loves Americans) or kokujo (woman who loves African Americans) subculture. As you might expect from the names, the subculture is frowned upon by many.
Lately, South Koreans have also gotten much attention due to the popularity of KBS' Winter Sonata. According to one writer, many women supposedly associate Korean men with the Kang Joon-sang character. However, it's really only a tiny, overexaggerated phenomenon that has cropped up (even now, Korean men would probably have a VERY hard time finding girlfriends).
In short, none of what you might read actually applies to the majority, who still emphasize the need to marry "socially respectable" people (Japanese ones at that). You'd be setting yourself up for disappointment if you were to buy into the media's fad of the moment.
Does this mean that playing dating sim and games like that help you get a real date?
I digress, but as a clarification, I don't think dating sims are essential to the phenomen they call moe. "Genuine" moe isn't about romantic love....in some ways, it's closer to a fond familial connection to fictional characters, with the latter in a position of strength (kind of a motherly sort of way?). These people seek a calming or soothing sensation from their "relationships". Of course, aesthetic beauty is important too, but the connection is never about sex/romance.
Anime, manga.....that covers it well enough. Indeed, the sim and digital novel market is ridiculously small, so I'd wager that the majority of "otaku" don't even play them.
At any rate, the article addresses those caught up with moe (and subsequently the women who admire them for the kind of sweetness they supposedly possess).