You can get the same feeling from being with a close friend..? :o
You could. Of course whenever I feel a certain affection towards someone I care for (Eg: A close friend) I'll remain their friend, if our relationship just so happens to progress to a stage where dating would be appropriate I just let it happen. I enjoy the feeling of someone sharing an indescribable feeling with me.
From what I've seen of younger people dating it's just for the sake of being in a relationship. I rarely see people who truly care for each other (on a more intimate level than friendship) become a couple.