I don't think separate room is viewed as negative at all. I think as others have said there are lots of us out there who are willing to do that. Usually the first time we are with a couple we tend to be same room. However there are some exceptions.
I have to agree with an earlier comment that it tends to be the expereinced couples that do this. I find that as you get more into the lifestyle and have experience under your belt you begin to become more comfortable with different ideas, just as your rules may tend to relax over time. This isn't the case with everyone, a lot of people are in this to be strickly same room swap and that is fine too. There is such a diverse aware of swinging activiities that I am sure you will find a couple or a couple of couples
that work for you.