Risk - if the provider has a good track record and is well reviewed, the fact that she does, or does not, advertise on BP is a non-issue. If there is no track record, or the reviews are very weak, then you should be very careful. In fact, if you are a newbie, you should not go there, period.

Price versus quality - "You get what you pay for." This is one of those eternal topics, and there is no right answer. There are lots of reasons why providers might charge more or less, and lots of reasons why you or I might like or dislike a provider. That means there is no strict correlation between price and the level of satisfaction you will experience. Personally, I would never go to see a provider whose scores are as low as you mention, because it suggests she ain't doing much, maybe nothing, for the money, and is not much to look at. So if my budget that week will not stretch to cover something better, I will just take a week or two off until I have saved up to a good time. Trust me, that is the better approach.

In the end you have to figure out what type of provider pleases you, fits your budget, and then figure out the best way to find her, or them. But if you are starting out, I suggest you stick with providers who have a good track record, and are well reviewed. That will minimize the major risks - being ripped off, and LE - and make it more likely you know what you are getting before you arrive.

have fun,
zig