I have a question:

I am basically having to start fresh since I have been out of the hobby for quite a while, have moved two times in the interim and the few providers I had seen have retired and pulled their websites.

I know about Preferred 411, Date Check and such sites, but I am more curious as to which site is the more widely used, or should I just sign up with several of them to basically "expand my reach" so to speak. Any advice would be appreciated.

Date-Check and P411. There are a lot of the same ladies on both sites, but there are enough on only one or the other to make it worthwhile to join both. If you are in the midwest, (Chicago area) you also might consider RS2K. That one is almost gospel in that area.

There are more women listed on Preferred411, in my area, so I have that, but also use Date-check.

Those are 2 of the most used as far as I know and I hear a lot about rs2k (don't use that....yet). preferred, date-check and rs2k seem to be top 3 and IF the guy has whitelist referral(s) from here (TER) I don't think that'd hurt a hobbyist either.

Some places like DC both are used widely.  Others one or the other is dominant.  Look and see how many women they have in your area(s) of interest.

I'm in the Southwest, so rs2k wouldn't really apply. I will probably sign up for both to get started and try to find "newbie friendly" ladies there, since I am basically starting over.

When I'm in the SW I use P411 primarily. Tho I belong to the others- it seems to be the most popular there.