DH - I don't think there's a universal answer to whether the D'd LBS should date someone who is 'separated' but not divorced. So much of it is contextual. If I was interested in someone who was in that situation - separated but not divorced - I'd want to get as much info as possible about why that is the case. How much time has passed? What has this person done to move forward in their life, not just dating? What if their ex professed deep love and wanted to work on things - would they go back and try or are they done?
I think you have to assess all of that. There is never a 100% guarantee, but getting as much data to make an informed decision is prudent. It's also so hard to come up with answers when it's just a hypothetical. Take me for example - I am at a place where my exW is dating and I don't want her back. I came to the conclusion before I found she was dating so it's not in response to her dating.
But if tomorrow she comes and tells me that she made a huge mistake and shows humility, remorse etc, and is ready to walk through fire to at least 'try', I don't know if I would stick to my guns about not taking her back. And this is not a reflection of me being uncertain. I just think that when the hypothetical situation actually comes to reality, it might create more complexity than we anticipate.
Getting back to dating, I am way more interested in the state of mind of the other person than their 'D' status.
