Some were ladies I saw for years while others, for reasons not related to how good they were, only for a short while.

It occurs to me that all of the top dozen or so MN providers are on the list PRECISELY because they provide something like a real experience -- forget the girlfriend bit. Some of the ones who could be on the list are not, because they watch the clock or count the money or look at their phones or upsell or screw around when making the appointment... What else is on that list?
During the summer I made an appointment with a local woman with an amazing body. Real pics. And not cheap. It was a cold experience, not to be repeated. It struck me afterwards that the difference between that and what could have been memorable was not services provided but just attitude. Nothing else.  I bet she has very few regulars.

... I’d say I’ve known 10 providers over the years who’ve delivered that.  And by GFE I mean it was really like seeing a girlfriend... for an hour or two. Except for the envelope of course.  

I’ve seen other providers who were great, with all expectations met or surpassed, but it was more a PSE than GFE.

the one that you remember from the time she first opened the door for you. And you continue to see her because you wish it could be more but know underneath it all you’re a “client”. Plus anything  more would screw up your life (and others) in a huge way. Every visit is a complete fantasy yet you feel it’s real. And the clock still ticks at each visit, bringing things back to reality. It will likely have to end, probably abruptly, someday. But for now I’m on on a wonderful but frustrating ride.

When I see a provider, I go in with the same mindset that I would for a "real life" date. The ladies pick up on that vibe quickly, and in my personal experience, 9 out of 10 have responded likewise. There may be money involved, but "real life" dates require money, too. Also, in my case, I don't have a wife or girlfriend to work around, so the boundaries with me are probably a little different than the average client. Bottom line: you get out of people what you put into them, and that includes our counterculture.

Some of this is our culture. I have seen a few Canadian escorts that viewed escorting as paid dating. It was much more tolerated as it was quasi legal at the time. It was way less mercenary. I had a few join me off the clock for dinner afterward. One wanted to dance and party all night. She slept over and refused to take any more money. Definitely a human part to the GFE equation. If you treat them like a girlfriend they might start in some limited way to become one. This is certainly noticeable if you come back to see them again.

to each client but every time I see some sort of qualifier word (i.e. "true", "ultimate", "open-minded") before the acronym "GFE", it always sounds as though the person is referencing BBFS.

I agree with Paige, most assume GFE is BBFS.
When in actuality, a provider that cares about you as a person with tenderness and sincerity. True embraces and genuine kisses. Someone that assures you your ok and builds your esteem without ever saying a word. A twinkle in the eye on meeting and a goodbye embrace that last until sometime tomorrow or next week.
Forget the need for BBFS, it’s the feeling given that counts but cant be counted. Unicorns, UFO’s, Bigfoot and true GFE.

Again, another subjective term, like beauty. I’ve had maybe 10-12 providers in all my years in this hobby that I would describe as “GFE”. They’re the ones I break my rule about only seeing once.

Seems that some hobbyists believe the provider is responsible for making a session GFE or otherwise. I’d argue that it’s equally up to both parties.  if you drop an envelope, get naked and treat her like a blow-up doll, it's almost impossible to get a girlfriend-like connection.  But if you treat it like a more traditional date, you're (at least more) likely to get it reciprocated.  I've only been in the hobby since last year, but have been very pleasantly surprised with the genuine connections I've had with the women gracious enough to share their time with me.  

Also, I strongly agree with what Lockstock wrote above, that you’re also more likely to find that connection with the consistently highly-rated providers (e.g., Piper Press, Paige Savage, London Diora (fka Ella Smith), Jersey Girl, Jordan Skye.)