While I agree that IOIs should not be on one's mind in the field, I would question the stance of not trying PU techniques on real people. I am not fully aware of how far you are in your game development Deville, but testing material is the only way you are going to learn, and this must be in a real world environment. Unless you are doing some really extreme NLP hypnosis type techniques then there is little harm inflicted on people. Try stuff out that you have read, have successes, make mistakes, and embrace what you learn.

Go out and experiment!! From now on though, make sure all the girls are strangers and not girls you already knew.