Wow, you mean trying to become friends with someone with the intention of trying to date them eventually instead of just wanting to be their friend back fires? 

Next thing you'll be saying wanting to be friends with someone rich and hoping you can take advantage of that is a bad idea as well. 

Just saying, most people see friends > lovers and think of, oh people that have realized they have feelings for each other that are deeper than friendship. And not, someone preplanning to become a friend as a step to get closer to eventually dating. 

Have you considered romance is something that happens organically for the most part and isn't a flow chart followed by automatons?