I agree that some people are better at communicating in different mediums. However, in your example, I don't think that you really got much further. You still blew it at the "talking in person" stage. It's just that you took longer to get there.
Speaking from experience, in this example blowing it in person isn't as damaging, because you've already shown the other person what you're capable of. You come off as someone who's shy and nervous rather than someone one's strange and unapproachable. Shy and nervous can trigger the maternal instinct in a woman which will keep her around long enough for you to get past the awkwardness.
