With the way the economy is and will be for awhile as it seems. Why continue to choose a provider paying 300 or more ?
I have used the more expensive providers and I have used the alternatives. There are differences,but is that enough to continue to pay more ? If you had a choice of the two and both were available at the same time. Would you choose the higher end due to perception ?

because they look good , have better reviews and tend to have nicer incalls ...also taste great less smelly. and their also pictures are less touched up . also less chance rod corrupted them with cheap gifts. and no chance the spoty saw them so that's a big plus .

Only way to get one that is up high is via a high end provider. )

Paying $300 for a Provider doesn't always ensure you'll get your Money's Worth. Are there Providers worth paying $300? Absolutely. For me the Provider I'm seeing charges alot less than $300 and her Session is probably as good as a Provider that charges $300. Besides paying $300 for a Provider these days is out of my price range.

Every now and then there's a hot ass chick I always wanted see.  

If you prefer save your money use your right hand. I prefer PS providers and as you can see no PS is cheap. Impossible to drive ferrari in the same price as ford

...her kids as well as the time spent going to get them, not to mention the cost of losing your self-esteem.

While there are no guarantees, sometimes you just want higher class.  I've found the lower you pay, the dirtier, the unsafer, the more mechanical the service becomes.  Granted, it varies from girl to girl and one or two providers who charge $150 - $200 for an hour can be a sweetheart while the majority at that range just are not what you want.  Cheaper usually means higher volume and thus usually a less GFE experience.  Even with reviews, it takes a long time to find a good low cost provider, shopping and sampling the merchandise.  Higher end gals tend to be pretty damn good or else they wouldn't get away with charging what they charge because few people would pay it.  It's faster and easier to get what you want simply by paying a little more.

I'm interested to know why you said "used" instead of seen or visited. In certain cities $300 would not be considered high end  

Also cost of drugs too.

$1k/hr., etc. because that's out of my affordability range.  Would drain my hobby budget for a month or more.  Have seen girls at $150-$200 and my experience varied widely.  Much more liable to be B&S or seedy incalls, etc.  Have had some negative experiences in that range.  I like one hour visits initially and if we click, then two hour visits after that.  $300 -maybe $400/hr.  fits that bill for my budget and there are many very beautiful, very experienced ladies here in the South in that range.
I'm not looking for PSE, more regular to GFE for me and want a predictably excellent experience with no unpleasant surprises.

Wear designer clothes and shoes, live in an expensive house, travel first class............................

That's all

no more needs to be said

I figure if I'm going to pay, and I have to travel, I want to get the all-around best provider I can. Usually that's meant $400+.  

Guys who always go high end, are not victims of the economy. Women who charge high end prices are also not victims of the hooker market, because they make enough at a real job to only do this a few times a month. Why pay more? Because they can.

"How do I figure out if there is a difference between the more expensive or less expensive item or service?  Reviews!  This is one reason I enjoy shopping on Amazon for items, because many people that have purchased items, post reviews.  I read Yelp, for their reviews for services."

I believe my income is on the low end of the TER scale. I see providers not just because it's fun, but because I really need to feel a woman.

BINGO!

You said you are on the LOW END of income... duh, so you ARE affected by the economy. I am talking about men who generally don't blink at blowing over 2k on each date, and I mean several a month. Those guys have money to piss away.

Yes, I'm affected by the economy, but at the same time I'm seeing the most expensive providers in my area.  

TRUE at times.

I did hear about the fake reviews on Amazon. I recently was at a high end retailer and they told me what you wrote plus that some of the items are literally fake

Thanks for this insight.. I am to fly to Vegas for the Mayweather flight and was debating about first class airfare.