My version of screening from the hobbyist side is "no reviews, no play". I don't mind paying the $ for a high class provider to rock my world but it's too much to chance on someone who just wants to ring up a sale.
Is it pretty safe to assume that providers that frequent these sites (TER and others) are the real deal... not LE? I'm thinking that local LE organizations are way to busy and short handed to be trolling and posting to boards like this. Bad assumption? Your thoughts and experience?
Bad assumption IMHO. Ya got to believe that LE is here. All of us need to be cautious ALL of the time. TER reviews are but one means of trying to avoid problems. If a provider has a long list of reviews from a variety of gentlemen who also have a significant # of reviews posted, then you're probably OK but there are never any guarantees.
He asked if it was pretty safe to assume. Yes, it is pretty safe to assume that - just don't expect it to be 100% safe.
My version of screening from the hobbyist side is "no reviews, no play". I don't mind paying the $ for a high class provider to rock my world but it's too much to chance on someone who just wants to ring up a sale.
I agree with you that one should never consider himself 100% safe, but do you think you may be a little paranoid that LE are on these boards and the reviews. Although that may certainly be a possibility, it seems like if they (LE) were on this board/site, they could bust a huge number of providers anytime they wanted. Just my 2 cents but I will still watch my back.