Putting aside the money aspect of the equation, (We know that the cost is lower) is the performance of the gal in terms of what they offer, how they offer it, and the looks department at least equal to what you have come to expect of good providers?

Are some things better/worse than others for the most part?

I'm not sure these questions have ever been asked or answered directly.

SB sex, except for the pros and semi pros of course, is much more like Civvie sex than hooker sex. Some guys will like this fact, others will prefer hooker sex. Personally I have mixed emotions.

 
As far as looks go, they run the gamut from 1's to 10's and everything in between. I do find a lot fewer OTHFBs in the Sugar World than the Hooker world, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of young fat broads. IMO if they are fat, does it really matter if they are over the hill or not? lol That said every single one of the SB's in my rotation are 9's on the TER scale.

 
The other thing about looks and fake pics is that you are under no obligation of any kind to move forward with an SB who for whatever reason you are not attracted to. Yes, you can walk out on a hooker if she used fake pics, and you SHOULD walk out without leaving a cent if this happens to you in the hooker world, but a lot of guys are loathe to do that. It's so much easier with a M&G with a POT SB, if she isn't for you, you are only out the price of a drink or a cup of coffee.

 
Back to performance, I like BOTH SB sex and hooker sex, and I have no intentions of giving up one for the other.

Pros will go into their standard routine if they don't get input from the client.  With younger SB's you are likely to be more in control of what happens.  As for what they do, there really are only a few basic things to do in sex and the SB's have done all the ones I care for.  In fact I've done some BDSM with submissive SB's.  Hard to find submissive pros.

An advantage with a pro is that you’ll often (not always) through here or others be able to identify specific activities she is open to, like being submissive, to determine if you want to contact her. With a SB you need to ask. For some you may not find out quickly. As stated in other posts, a number of SB’s may not want to view themselves as a pro or semi-pro, so they may not share this information right away.

An advantage with a SB is you can put something like “looking for a submissive woman” in your profile, although some never read the profile. And some SB’s put info in their profile: submissive, kinky, freaky, BDSM, nothing off limits…. Just be aware that their idea of these activities may vary from yours .  

Another advantage with a SB is that you can get an overnight with dinner and other normal public activities and msog at a rate that only gets you an hour with many pro’s (2-4 Bens). I travel frequently, often by myself and have no SO; for me the biggest difference is I want to spend an evening out – dinner, a concert or such with an attractive woman.  For the agreed ppm plus the cost of meals, drinks and tickets I may have this SB with me for 14+ hours instead of an hour. This give us time to talk, for her to feel comfortable and that can lead to her being more open or adventurous BCD.  

Common traits, anyone can: NCNS, turn BSC in a second, be a clock-watcher, upsell, promise A to Z then barely deliver A, etc. etc.

Bias alert*. Haven't been with a hooker in many years.  Prefer civie's and SB's.  Having said that, when I recollect on all of my romps over the past 30 years, absolutely some of my fondest memories were with hookers.  

What I didn't like about most sessions with hookers was:  1) you knew you were on the clock and you couldn't just get lost in the time, 2) many had a routine and didn't vary from it, 3)  you were just one of many...even if if she marketed herself as 'selective' or 'low volume', and 4) screening process and giving out personal information (which I rarely did and therefore lost out on some hookers that I wanted to see).

With SB's the clock is rarely a concern.  In fact, I'm typically the one that has the pressures of time.  Even though I only do PPM, it feels much more 'natural' and less transactional than with hookers.  Have tested and gone without protection with a handful of SB's, something that never crossed my mind with hookers.  For a couple of SB's, I was their only sexual release, it showed and they responded appropriately.  And finally, I like getting to know the SB's on a personal level, doing the deed at their place, occasional dinners and traveling.  Again, things that I did not do with hookers.  

Biggest downside with SB's is the tremendous effort required to get past the flakes/crazies and get BCD's.  Sometimes the sex is just flat out boring and then it's "one and done".

IMHO, the best of all is the hardest to achieve....and that's the civie FWB's.  

Yes, I've met some incredibly passionate lovers via SA.  My standard for repeating with a pro escort is the 9 (forgot it was a service).  I've met multiple SBs who have crossed that bar.  It's all about the chemistry.  

No, some of the SB I've had BCD have not measured up and became one and done.  So have some pros I've seen.  

Besides the economic equation (as noted by the OP), the major difference I see with sugar vs pro is the tendency for sugar to not be a clock watcher and to be very open to social time before and/or after the sex, without expecting more than our agreed upon ppm.  

Its all about chemistry and how much she is attracted to you. I'd been with SB that don't kiss, no daty, no bj, etc. Others good in bed with lots of kissing and very real sex and others as passionate as hell.  My current favorite is probably the most passionate woman I'd ever been, even more that past girlfriends and wife.

I’d say most of the time a pro goes through the
motions and acts as though she’s into you.  I find SBs try harder to be more like your girlfriend.  It doesn’t seem to be so much of an act.  Maybe that’s because they are in amateur status vs pro.  The SBs seem to be younger, pussy not as used, and willing to get freaky.  I could be slanted bc where I live it’s rare to see a pro and I depend on my sugar babies for my satisfaction.