And why is it preferential over conventional methods?

Actually, my hobby life began prior to marriage, but about 7 years after marriage, I went back to it.

It's not a fucking hobby! It's a fucking lifestyle! Do you fucking understand? Geez.  

Excuse the label... never understood it as a " hobby", but that seems to be the most popular terminology around here. Sound reasoning. Especially with ladies of the caliber which you post.

I don't pay for "the lifestyle" I pay them to go away after.

a widower at the age off 49.  There was no shortage of ladies my own age descending on me to offer consolation (and sexual favors), but I found once they took off their clothes, not a single one was in the same league (5-2, 104#, athletic and fit) as my late wife, and it became a chore to force myself to go through with it.  I tried dating girls in their early-to-mid 30's which is still my preferred age for the best sexual experiences. but it became a huge time-suck, and as Larouche  suggests, comes with a lot of drama and unreasonable expectations on the part of the woman.   A friend suggested I try working girls, directed me to eros and that mall to find some ladies, and I spent the first 6-8 months seeing indies.  Then I discovered TER in October of 2008, and from TER, discovered agency girls.  The rest is well documented in other posts I have made over the years.  

would hangout in and party at all the old clubs and would walk by the pics of that "red newspaper" box.

I heard the chicks were young which they were and at the time I was too lol. It 2005 and it was my first K-girl experience. Since then I've been addicted.

...... then 2 monogamous marriages. Then in my mid 50's, I ended the second 16 year  marriage that had become sexless.
I wasn't looking for a new committed relationship, but i was wanting some great sex. Because I don't drink anymore, a different story, bars to meet women was really out. Besides, I had no game.  

I was married but couldn't stop fantasizing about the women I saw around me. I found affair sex extremely  hot -- which led to a divorce. Remarried (a mistake) but kept looking for the next affair. Finally decided to give escorts a go. Lots of variety... the next new thing is very addictive... but I also miss the constancy of an affair with just one particular women who you can fantasize about your next meeting. Still trying to find the perfect blend.

The wife gave great BJs for 25 years.  That's why I married her.  Never touched another woman those 25 years.  

but I don't mind at all calling it a hobby. Personally, I do consider it a hobby, not a lifestyle even though it's pretty obvious I spend every bit as much time at it as anyone else on these boards, but speaking strictly for myself, it doesn't define me. Maybe my answer to your OP will make that more clear.

22 years ago, I had just been dumped by a hot but crazy woman. I went to a friend's bachelor party, and there were a couple of strippers there. After they left, a bunch of us went to a strip club downtown. When we finally came back to the bachelor party, there was a sad group of guys there who had been trying to get an escort to show up and entertain each of them.

I'm sorry for your loss. My marriage ended as I was turning 49. But mine was a mutual dissolution. I couldn't imagine losing a women whom I still cared for and had a good relationship with.
The last 3 yrs of my marriage neither of us wanted each other. It was there if I wanted it, but I just didn't care. And when it did happen, it had become less about the journey and all about the destination.  
I thought I was succumbing to minute man and E.D. issues. But that's been disproven as I need no pharmaceutical help, and I've had performances that would rival my best in my youth With several beautiful ladies since.
I also tried civie dating at the end of my marriage,  but found women my own age and even nearly a decade younger to be ....just not quite up to my visual requirements.  
I doubt at this stage of life that I'll meet any woman that just blows me away, so I don't see another relationship in my future.  
The thought of getting involved again makes me cringe...
I prefer my freedom, which makes this the perfect way of life for me. Just an email or text, and I can have company when desired. I do miss the sport of romancing the panties off a lady, but that usually involves promises I know I couldn't keep ..." oh yeah, I really like you. I can see this developing into a relationship." I'm too old to bullshit anyone.  
So I've made a new sport for myself...
I try my hardest to make sure any lady I see has a nice ( legitimate) O!
Life becomes stale when you stop trying to challenge yourself!

Was having affairs with thugs and gangbangers. I wanted to have some affairs myself, but that wasn't working so well. I read some reviews of a site called backpage, and decided to try it. I instantaneously met my wonderful ATF (oh, how I wish she hadn't retired).

I found myself out of town on business 14 years ago, and thought that someone across the hall from my room was getting some, based on the sounds I heard while keying into my room.  Turned out I was right, "Nice meeting you", "Thanks for coming" heard about a half hour later through the door as the lady left.   I realized that the dude across the hall had had an escort visit, and it occurred to me that I could make that happen as well.  Three weeks later, after joining TER as VIP, it did in NYC.  The rest is history.  And ongoing.

I pay a hooker , get my nuts off and she leaves . Then I can get quality rack time unlike when trying to sleep next to a woman  ( a human heat radiator ) .  If I was snowed in , in an Alaskan trapping cabin or stuck in an igloo it would different .

I didn't say anything about my mother in law...

After my marriage ended, I had little luck finding women in whom I was really interested and frankly I didn't find women my age that attractive.  Celibacy had no appeal so I eventually got into the P4P world, first in strip clubs and then eventually escorts once I found TER.

After my marriage ended I found finding an available woman in whom I might be interested virtually impossible and celibacy extremely unappealing.  Eventually, I found my way into P4P, first into strip clubs and later escorting when I found TER.

1) Variety----I like women of all nationalities and the "lifestyle" (I am also not crazy about the word "hobby") allows me to choose among different ethnicities and races.

Well the first time I tried it was out of desperation as I was a 29 year old virgin with less then no game. I did every last thing wrong and had a horrid experience. I swore up and down never again.

I love women:  bright charming attractive warm ladies who provide a few hours of wonderful company and great sex.

It all started with my first trip to Las Vegas, years ago.  I was in town for a conference and heard about the legal brothels out in Pahrump and was curious.  At the time, I couldn't take the chance of playing on the darkside due to my career, so the brothels were my playground for a couple of years.  I also made friends with some hobbyists back then, who directed  me to TER in 2003 and the rest is history.  Actually, the first Indie that I saw was a former brothel girl working in Las Vegas that year.

For me it is simple. I have never been married and I gave up on "relationships" years ago. My lawyer encourages me to see providers as it is less costly. I like the first part of the relationship but not the back end. I work 7 days a week 18 hour days. So no time for relationships. My paid relationships can range from one date to up to 12 years. Right now I have a ATF I have seen for over 2 and half years.  

For beautiful women and variety.  

By my girlfriend..... she changed her phone number for some reason.   I called the old number by mistake and found it still active,  so I googled it and discovered pages of reviews spanning our entire relationship,  about 18 months.  At that point I thought prostitution was only street walkers and Nevada brothels....  I confronted her about it and she called me a bunch of names and ghosted me.

I remember getting my ass chewed out by a lady once.  We were chatting during "recovery" time.  I used the word hobby and then she went on this 20 second tirade telling me that she wasn't a hobby blah blah blah.  Then we had some good make up sex.  

I would say, "In that case, next time I will see someone who is."  

When I see a Professional that takes me to Heights of Ecstasy, I have been longing for. "NO BRAINER".
Married for over 40 years so i paid my dues. i am so glad these beautiful women are a part of my life, makes life worth living. i am a Romantic and i love the flowers.

This is like the question, why are banks robbed?  . . . . That's where they keep the money!
This is where you find the erotic women!

I most definitely consider "hooker-fucking" as one of my hobbies, but I hardly consider myself a "hobbyist"  

We love to label things, but hate to be labeled.

I wear the label "asshole" like a badge of honor.

indies, girls who self-identify as "hookers" are ALWAYS a better fuck than a girl who calls herself a "courtesan."  As you probably already know, K-girls prefer to call themselves "working-girls."  That's still better than a girl who calls herself an "upscale, high-end, classy, VIP courtesan and special companion."  Spare me the adjectives, ladies,  . . . . . pleeeez.  The first thing that comes to mind when I see this kind of self-description is that she's over-selling because she KNOWS her service is below market standard.  Might be a Freudian thing.  

the need and my ugliness.
One more thing, I have always been on the low scale of the hobby. I go safe and healthy but never the less cheap.