Why did I get ghosted?

[Camfer]

I have a friend who will absolutely never contact me to do anything, ever, except if it's his birthday and he has no plans. If I want him in my life it's up to me to call him up and invite him out to do something. Only once has he ever declined. It's always great when we get together.

Rather than sit back and not call him even when I want to see him, because I'd be "desperate" or "the ball is in his court," I call him, we hang out, and it's all good.

Nothing wrong with your approach. There are people worth knowing who are not initiators. If you don't want to deal with them, fine. It largely sounds like his loss, as you totally appear to be worth knowing.

I'm still left wondering if we're looking at a situation where there are two guys here who are really into each other, one who will never initiate and needs more contact before he responds, and another who is stronger and more empowered, who contacted once and will never again. Stumbling into intimacy can be hard.