I'm happy to share some of my thoughts and experiences. First off, the sugar world is definitely unique. But, as much as most SBs would like to think it is different than escorting, it is still sex work. Different, but still sex work. While dabbling in the sugar world can replace time with escorts, for me, they serve two different purposes. With escorts, you look for a specific experience and, through research, you can readily find that which you seek on an HOURLY basis that works for you. The relationship with an escort has boundaries that are defined, initially, by hourly constraints. That is, a one hour experience is likely to be very different than a two hour experience. Yes, you can definitely develop a more "intimate" relationship with an escort as you continue to see her over time. But, the primary model that i have observed in most hobbyists is to enjoy variety of different escorts, either "one and done," or by cycling through a group of regulars. Boundaries may get stretched a bit as time goes on and you get to know more about each other. That is the intimacy part, or the part where if that is what you seek, a sugar baby may be the way to go. In the sugar world, the boundaries tend not to be set initially by time together... it really should not be, when it works well, an hourly arrangement. In the sugar world, non-escorts dabble in sex work by calling it a "mutually beneficial" arrangement. This is code for she provides sex and you provide money...at its basic core. Platonic sugar relationships are unicorns. But, most SDs who emerge from their initial escorting phase are seeking more than just sex. They want a connection. And, while that is possible with an escort, there is always a "clock" at work. With good SBs, the "clock" is irrelevant.
With that background, i have two other thoughts:
1) Escorts are professionals and the general notion is that they are more skilled at sex. The best are more skilled in not only the sex, but the fantasy as well. SBs, on the other hand, tend to be less experienced (although not always) and the quality of the initial sexual encounter can vary widely. In short, they do not have the professional ability to provide the fantasy part...although they might be quite skilled sexually, which is great. A hobbyist can do his research and find an escort who will provide a nice sexual experience. Sometimes, we find experiences that are off the charts good and we repeat. Rarely, if you do your homework, will the experience be disappointing. With SBs, on the other hand, you do not know what you are going to get during that first sexual encounter. Very simply, there is a much, much lower floor of potential quality with an SB than a well reviewed escort. The encounter can possibly be sexually disappointing, for one or both of you. On the other hand, finding a great match with an SB who is skilled or eager to learn and experiment can be an off the charts experience...again, because there is no clock and no defined lines not to be crossed in terms of sharing info about each other, thus heightening intimacy. There are just some things that are not appropriate to ask an escort as they would be invasive to her and her privacy. With an SB, many other topics are on the table.
2) Those who i know to hobby AND indulge in the sugar world often talk about the "value" for their dollars. For example, I can see a great escort in Toronto for 3 hours at a cost of $1200-1500. I know the experience will be nice. On the other hand, an SB in my area generally will accept a PPM ('pay per meet) of $500-600. For that, my experience has been sharing drinks, multiple hours of sex, and dinner, all that being a minimum of 4 hours and often up to 8 hours. To get that with an escort, the cost goes up to $1500-2000 for 4 hours. Sugar sounds great, right? Well, the catch is the amount of work to find that great SB can be so labor intensive that it becomes wildly frustrating...including meet and greets that just dont work out with numerous potential SBs...that is time and money and energy. A great escort is a couple of clicks and a thoughtful email away from a guaranteed good experience.
So, in my opinion, both have their pros and cons. But, for me, they work together. I have SBs here at home and enjoy wonderful escorts when i travel. There is obviously so much more that can be said on this topic, but you've probably thought I have rambled on too long already! Interesting thread and, of course, these are just my experiences. I'm sure others have done things differently. That is the beauty of the sandbox we play in...something for everyone. Lastly, a shout out to the amazing escorts here in Toronto who treat me so well when I visit. My city has nothing that remotely compares to you...cheers!!
