So far I have seen only ladies that are independent and for the most part it has been a good experience. But I have had my eye on a few ladies that work for agencies but haven't pulled the trigger yet as I really don't feel comfortable dealing with a "middle person"
Is my hesitation warranted or am I missing out on some great ladies for no good reasonIndependent gals always seem more "with-it", and are more experienced too.
Then there is the fear that an agency could get busted, and then I'd be anxious about my info getting out to LE. I just don't need that anxiety in my life.
The guys and gals doing the booking are generally very respectful and easy to work with. The real benefit of an agency is that once they know you, you have access to all their providers without any further screening. And even better, in these uncertain times when so many girls cancel or no show at the last minute, a good agency can suggest a substitute. The downside of course is what mrfisher said. I actually experienced that "Oh shit!" feeling when an agency I had used got busted and LE made a big deal about it in the media saying they were going after the "johns" as well. That never happened but it was scary. There's a geographic component too. Some areas are well served by agencies while others have none which can affect your choices.