Well, in writing letters you get to avoid the discomfort we all feel on 'first dates'. You get to unfurl yourself slowly and let her come to understand you. In a way, you get to be the person who you really think you should be, and find out you are. Maybe you're balding or a bit heavy, feel old, wear glasses, any of those things that make us self-critical. From a Russian woman, you might even hear some compliments about your picture.
Russian women are much more interested in the human being than in the level of physical perfection.
Women here aren't so hung up on your appearance. It really is what's inside that counts here. If you're the intellectual type, you will truly enjoy meeting women through letters or email. Because women value an intelligent, sharp, capable man in this country. Remember, during WWII all the intellectuals were killed, by the enemy, or by their own government.