The web site mentioned in one of those articles (passionpixie.com, it's gone now) has been discussed here before. It's the only web site I've ever seen that affirmatively offered BBFS. As I recall, it sounded like she wouldn't use a cover even if requested. Article also suggests she was operating a brothel across the street from a school. All-in-all, kind of sounds like LE did everyone a favor.
As to whether she was truly a representative sample from which every provider should be judged, everyone needs to use their own judgment. I'm not suggesting anyone flash their ID around to anyone who asks, but on at least two occasions a provider has been arrested who could, if she chose, have pointed LE in my direction. It was nerve wracking, but nothing happened. I'm tempted to claim it's because I always treated them well, but the truth is I never heard of any repurcussions for anyone after the fact.
Some day it may all bite me in the ass, big time. Before I started in the hobby, I looked at the law and at my own circumstances and calculated what the damage would be if I was caught, and if the prize was worth the risk. And I revisit that calculation with some frequency. I recommend it to everyone. Doesn't matter how paranoid you are, or how careful, if your luck turns bad you could be busted. The time to think about that is before, not after, it happens.
Sorry, I know I was supposed to STFU but I'm not good at taking orders.
