I think getting to know each other is always a good thing.
The informal system used in the U.K., because there's no rule that says this, involves what they call a hustings, an all-candidates debate. It is an occasion to interact, and it provides some of that interaction.
There's something else that I think, though, is a negative element, which has entered into our elections for Speaker. The last two sets of speakership elections, 2008 and 2011, saw the introduction of hospitality suites to keep members occupied between votes. People would go off to member X's office where they would enjoy some hospitality. Depending on which suite it was, it ranged from scotch to ice cream. Although these things exist at party conventions, I actually think they are indecorous in an environment like this one, and I was sad to see them emerging. I should mention that the winning candidate did not participate in this process, so perhaps that in itself will kill the practice off in the future. It doesn't seem to be all that successful, but I did think it was very much in the wrong direction. We really should be deciding on the merits of each candidate based exclusively on the somewhat austere judgment we have rather than based on how hospitable they might be.