Well, I've posted in threads like this several times, so regulars will more or less know what I think. I'm especially cynical about PUA. But I'm in the mood to write something, so here goes.
BlueSpade, look. You've heard that performing magic shows confidence, right?
Well, let me ask you, have you ever seen a nervous performance? I bet you have. Have you ever seen a professional, confident performance? I bet you have as well. So what does that tell you?
A performance by itself doesn't show confidence. You can perform confidently, and you can perform without confidence.
Another question: if a person who is not confident manages to perform confidently, and then gets the chance to talk to a girl, then what? Won't she see that he's not confident?
My point from all of the above is this: magic is not a substitute for confidence. Performing magic can improve our confidence and sense of sel-esteem, that is true. Magic is a great and important part of most of our personalities. That is also true. But it's no substitute for a personality - or for confidence.
As for whether magic is lame or not... Well, if you ask what people think, then chances are, you'll get different opinions. Some people think it's cool. Some people think it's lame. Some people will change their minds if they see great magic. Some people won't. My point? Magic isn't a constant. But who doesn't like a well-dressed, confident, amicable person?
As for magic as a talent... I refer to what I said above. It's an interesting part of your personality. But let me repeat an earlier question in another way. Say you perform for a girl. What next? Magic is no substitute for social interaction. Performing magic doesn't get you a girlfriend by itself. When the trick ends, it's just you and the girl. It's not like if you perform 10 good tricks she'll go out with you, she's not a vending machine.
The underlying point of this post is that magic is a part of you and you shouldn't ignore it. If you choose to use your magic to enhance your personality, so be it. But be aware that if you have nothing to back it up, then you won't be successful, because when the trick ends, you have to actually talk to a real, breathing human being. Earlier today, I picked up a girl I've never met before and arranged for a date. The catalyst for our conversation was my experience in a recent TEDx conference. But even though we had that to kick off our conversation, if I had for example appeared arrogant, obnoxious or stupid through our conversation, it is highly unlikely that it would have ended the way it did. If I had proven unable to hold a conversation, for example, then that experience would not have meant a thing.
I, personally, have performed for people I've dated, but I've never used it to pick up. All I'm saying this, there's more to think about than does magic = girlfriend/relationship/one night stand (clearly, no).