but if you're traveling to a city where you want some action, on a business trip for example, contacting an agency well ahead of time  might be your best bet. They'll be more helpful in set to g things up than you tryi g to deal one on one with a woman you don't know and who doesn't know you.

On average, an agency encounter will most likely cost more than seeing an independent. Many of the minor details are more easily worked out with an agency than with an independent.

While I prefer independents, I have gone the agency route in occasion. Recently, I was in a session with a woman from an agency, and she explained to me why she found it a better option for both clients and escorts. First, all of the screening is done in both ends by the agency. She herself doesn't have to take call after call or answering email after email, text after text.  The client doesn't have to chase her down to make arrangements. Traveling clients don't have to stumble around trying to find the incall location. A third party knows where the meeting is taking place, it's not two strangers getting together where no one else knows about it. If something happens, it's not a complete mystery as to what and where.

Generally speaking, you will find a few differences, if you stay in this for awhile. Many feel Indy's provide a better overall personalized service and they probably see less people on average per day/week than an agency girl as that matters to some (but who really knows for sure about that?). Indy's tend to push the GFE thing more than agency providers.
Agency girls tend to be younger (i.e. most seem to be in their 20's/early 30's) and obviously much more choice as many agencies will have multiple women to choose from even though you just get verified the one time to have access to their entire staff. Let me stress there are exceptions to all the above. I see both agency girls and Indy girls so I don't get locked into one type of provider. I greatly enjoy both. Sometimes it's just my mood, or a certain girls availability that is the deciding factor.

 
With regards to your assertion that "Independents can be unreliable and unprofessional, you can wind up in sketchy location or scammed" I would only concur if you do not do you due diligence. If you put some time into your research, you will rarely, if ever, be scammed and I am almost never disappointed in a Indy ladies professionalism.

"Which type of client is better, the one who contacts me directly when I'm independent, or the one the agency sends me to after he had contacted them?"

Theoretically, escorts take a chance also on how a client is going to act. Escorts have to deal with the chance of negative interactions such as time-wasters, NCNS (no call, no show), disrespect, poor hygiene, drunkiness, finding out he's a minor, cheapskates, shortchanged, scammers, con artists, law enforcement sting, abusers, women-haters, a rapist or quasi-rapist, a second person hiding in the trunk or closer or bushes, gang-rape, kidnapping, assault, murder.

Indies can be hit and miss; you are more likely to get ghosted when you get to the location, cancelled on last minute, having to jump through numerous hoops in order to get verified, etc... when dealing with an indie.  

Not to mention, indies are their own boss; so they don't have to answer to anybody, which in my experience has resulted in service being whatever she's in the mood for, rather than what you expect for the donation price point - within her boundaries. I've also noticed that American indies have a much different work ethic than women who travel here from other countries, who are much more serious about making a good impression and working hard. Of course, I'm speaking in general terms, and there are some good indies out there who take their 'brand' serious, but I have found that when you get in with a good, well run agency, the attitude of the ladies are generally much better as they are working for someone and want you remain in good graces with their 'employer'.

There was a time when I saw a lot of agency girls. One a week. They would call me when they had a new girl. I also saw independents too. My issue with all agencies is that they tend to be low hanging fruit for LEO.  They get busted then go after the clients. It seems that it's frequently reported that the girls are trafficked. Probably not true.. an excuse.  
RE: traffiking... I also do worry about agencies where most girls are not from the United States.  I don't want to support any level of trafficking & I doubt that the girls are very enthusiastic if they are. Some agencies have foreign women traveling all over the country for months.  That has to get pretty old for them. Not what I'm interested in.

When I first started out (18.5 years old) I started to learn the ropes of the Adult industry (Escorting).  But only knew very little. The tricks that some of the escorts/providers are playing.........They learn from the owner of the Escort Agency. So, don't think that the Independent Escorts have magically come up with these tricks.  They may have perfected it.

of delivering services while holding down the huge rate increases we have seen in the past few years among indies.  

I consider some agencies to be the best value proposition out there.  

Also, when researching, agencies are more accepting of reviews than Indies tend to be these days - making doing research a bit easier.

That being said, some fantastic Indies can be found as well; I just think it is becoming more difficult as they continue to shun reviews and raise rates in general.

So, all of my favorites are Indy. And more expensive than agencies. But if I just want a 1 hour blow and go, agencies have an appeal and variety. In my experience, about 2/3rds of the agency girls are good and skilled. The other third are like bad pizza…not great but I’ll eat it.