I take it as a compliment whenever someone notices something nice about me. I'd find it strange if I were on a date and they didn't remark/comment about something they noticed about me.
I notice a lot of nice things about people and I mention lots of the things I notice.
I can't actually remember if the sad clown was a complimenter or not. I do recall lots of Mills&Boon moments about how I made him feel (i.e.: love bombing) but not really a lot about me.
The biggest compliment he ever gave me was during False R. I was talking away and he got this wry smile on his face. When I asked what he was smiling about he said he loved the way I say my P's - [music lingo word I can't recall] perfect and that he has always loved it. It pains me to have that memory now because it was such a touching moment. I guess it was one of the rare times the compliment felt genuine, not just love bombing.
If I compliment her looks will she think I'm trying to make a move or that I'm shallow?
^^IMO if the compliment is genuine with no ulterior motive then it doesn't really matter how it is taken - the issue is theirs, not yours.
But don't mention tits until at least the third date. Actually, probably best to wait until you've met them. 
Last year I went out with a guy who had the most astonishingly beautiful eye crinkles when he smiled. I blurted it out in the middle of a conversation randomly. He seemed kind of perplexed/surprised at first but then he laughed out loud (BIG eye crinkles). I'm sure he thought I was a freak but he liked it. They're still astonishingly beautiful even though I decided we weren't compatible.. AT ALL.
