Seems perilously hard to hook up P4P in the US without using your cell phone at some point. Yet clearly there is risk in having individual providers having your number (if things went south for some reason) or your wife finding strange numbers on yout phone.  

What do most of u with SOs do about this? Burner phone (different risk) or somehow deal on your personal phone or? Or are there good alteratives to the good ole phone for this?

...has served me well for years, even though I haven't had an SO for a while. Relatively cheap, easy to set up without giving personal info and simple to dump every few months (or when needed).

Others have talked about software programs to take the place of a burner phone and activate on their daily phone only when they need it. But being an old dinosaur (reference the handle), I don't trust that some program won't cross-reference playtime contact info with every other facet of my life.

KISS principle still one of the best guidelines around.

with a creative name, address (where you want the AC), and buy reload cards with cash. Totally safe.  

I've been using one for years.  And a separate hobby email address with some free service.  It's cheap insurance.   It's smart to start out being cautious.  

A gal I was seeing was getting harrassed...  took a lot of precautions when we met...  her stalker used an email address his wife had access to.  When Provider responded as requested, wife found out & kicked his arse out.  And he'd never seen said provider but blamed her for responding as requested.  Provider was fortunate he DIDN'T know her location.    

I thought of using a burner phone, but for me it's a pain to carry two phones.  There are many apps that give you a free number for calls and texting.  I use that and after I used it I just delete the number or call.  It's easy and there's no need to worry about a second phone to hide, etc.

A burner phone and dummy account linked to it. I guess it would depend on how often you hobby. Meaning, minutes, e-mails and text messages (usage).

I suppose the level of discretion needed varies on your situation. As a provider, I use a separate number hooked up to my personal cell phone. All calls/texts go through that number, but it’s easier for me (and in my situation, less noticeable/suspicious) than a second phone.  

Are there more secure methods? Certainly, as mentioned above. But as I am not in a situation with a SO, this suits my needs just fine.