Am curious if anyone here has hobbied where it is legal. What were your observations when the criminal element is not there? Overall, did you leave more satisfied?

I wouldn't say I was any more or less satisfied just because it was legal, but there are some huge plusses for mongering where prostitution is legal. Not the least of which is that both parties have recourse if either party steals, extorts, etc from the other.

I am a huge supporter in the decriminalization of prostitution, and outright legalization could also work just fine as long as we didn't use the horrible system in Nevada as a template. Keep in mind, prostitution is legal in about half of the world today, and it seems to be working just fine.

Once was in Britain, where I'd say the experience was quite close to a ripoff.

Then I had three experiences in Canada which were much better.

The first was at a DIY MP in Quebec where I got the gal to loosen up a bit with very satisfactory results.

The next was an indie massage provider whom I found quite agreeable.

The last was a brothel on Vancouver Island where I found a most satisfying gal for a very reasonable price.

That's about it.

Not only can you meet a woman in person before obligating yourself to fork over any money, but you can also be very clear about what's on the menu without worrying about either of you being LE.

Costa Rica and a few other countries I frequent are  well known for CBJ being the norm and not the exception, but since there is no worry about LE, you are free to ask straight out "do you offer CBJ or BBBJ?"  or more accurately if oral is "con o sin condon?"

The list of positives is way too long to list, and for the life of me I can't think of any negatives. as long as we aren't using the Nevada system as a template for legalized prostitution that is. Leave it to us to fuck up even legalized prostitution.

Prices are cheap in countries where its legal. No need to inflate the prices as supply and demand forces are in full effect. No need to suck up to Prima Donnas. If someone doesn't want to suck your cock (for whatever reason), you can get 3-4 who do, and will do it with a smile.

One time I went mongering in Amsterdam, and I left not satisfied at all.  In fact my worst mongering experience in the USA was better.  

I've hobbied in both Australia and Canada in addition to the US.  For me...it was a LOT better because I only had to worry about being discreet to avoid having my mongering ways become "public knowledge".  The fear of legal consequences, etc was completely gone.  I never second guessed like I often do in the states.  

When I travel to parts of Europe .

It's great but not "better," just different.  It's cheap, but not so much so when you factor in air fare and hotels.  It's totally in the open and it's huge fun to see the "revolving chica buffet," pick one out and take her right to your room.  But you need to negotiate everything up front and make sure you don't give her the money first or you may not get what you want.
All that said, well, I'm going back, right?

Canada is where I first took the plunge, after I realized that it WAS legal there, and LE didn't do craigslist or backpage stings.  So I found someone on Craigslist, and it was very nice.  Then I graduated to reading PERB and CERB, and found what I needed.  I never once worried about the police, which was nice.  Prices are about $50 cheaper on average in the great white north, but YMMV.

and being legal, or illegal doesn't make it anymore or less of a job for the women who work in it.

and you are right about the price, escort prices don't seem to revolve around the legality of prostitution in a particular area, so much as it does the economy and cost of living/wages in that particular part of the world. As you said the cost of escorts in Western Europe are even higher than in the US, while in developing and third world nations in places like Asia and Latin/South America, prices for companionship are much lower.

I have mongered in literally dozens of countries and to me it seems like in almost all places hookers get paid on an hourly basis on average somewhere between 10 to 20 times that of the average full time wage earner with the number seeming to be a higher multiple in places where wages are low. For example in the US the typical escort charges anywhere from $250 and $500 per hour, while the average person makes $15-40 hr. which falls into the lower end of that scale. In lets say a country like Colombia the average hooker charges $50-75 hr, with the higher end girls getting maybe $100, the average wage  earner in Colombia makes somewhere in the $2-4 hr range. In Costa Rica the average Tica charges about $100 hr and the average wage is in the $4-5 hr range.

Now lets look at Asia, in places like Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines etc wages are very low, even lower than Colombia, and the average sex worker is charging as little as $20-40 hr. but if you go to places like Taiwan, Japan or Korea with more developed economies you will find that prices of escorts can be even higher that here at home.

I wish Indiana would jump on bandwgaon making business legal.This crazy wasting tax payers money.

Seriously like the beginning of a white paper on the subject.