I understand, 100%, what you mean about feeling like a stepping stone. I've even used that analogy myself. I'm good when there's not much options, it's either use me or get your feet wet.
The thing about opening yourself up, and this is fairly depressing, is that people will get freaked out. If they meet you as a subdued, introverted person, and they watch you become someone else, that will seem off putting. To us, we think it's reasonable to be introverted when we're around new people. It makes sense, we don't know them, have to suss them out, see what'll fly and what won't. Many, many people I've met aren't like that. Of course, some people just like to talk about themselves, I think every person is guilty of that a few times.
There are options, from what I can see in my own situation. I can either remain that introverted, quiet dude for as long as I know that particular person, or I can do my absolute best to a welcoming character right off the bat, as terrifying as that is. It ain't easy, behaving in a natural manner in a situation that doesn't seem to be natural, but it's all about practice. You can't learn piano by thinking about pianos, you know? This sounds REALLY dumb, but I sit in front of a mirror, with my laptop next to me, and try to copy faces and mannerisms of people that have these traits. I'm thinking of it as the chicken and egg scenario, in that convincing people I am this person, I will become that person.
You could always get lucky and meet someone, or a group of people, exactly like you, but the biggest problem there is that those people are doing the exact same thing. They're sitting at home in front of their computer, wishing they could meet someone to hang out with.
