Okay, I think I tried to make my original point too strongly...
Raven, I wasn't saying to send a dozen emails before the booking, and asking for a lot of intimate information, or anything like that. I was suggesting that you send just a few emails to try and get a feel for the lady's personality. Hopefully when you're negotiating the booking (I mean negotiating time and extras, not money) - which could take 2-3 emails, one would hopefully have a reasonable idea of what she's like, based on how she responds. If I'm still a little unsure, I'll only email again to let her know that I am feeling nervous, and that I will probably be a little timid when it comes to the booking. I'd ask her to be a little encouraging with me and help guide me through. If she at least knows that your nervous, she'll know what to expect (to a certain degree) when she opens the door and she'll know that she has to be a little more assertive.
You do make a valid point, Raven. These women also have phone calls to answer as well. But this is their business, and I think these demanding conditions with regards to communication is a natural (and necessary) part of the job.
Actually, just noticed a flaw in your maths, Raven. Since that's 28 bookings in a week, associated with 84 emails resulting in approximately 14 hours to respond to them, that's 14 hours over 7 days - only 2 hours a day, which (at least in my mind) doesn't sound like much. But it's still a valid point - that these ladies do spend a significant amount of time responding to queries and bookings Reviewom clients via email and phone.
And whoreboy... well, I wouldn't choose based solely on forum participation, but I also wouldn't just choose based on pics either. Since I don't have a great deal of paper to Revieweely distribute, I am quite picky and selective. Forum/chatroom participation helps, because it helps you to see what they are like without having to make any commitment to see them. It also helps remove a bit of pressure, because it is just social. But it's not a deciding factor, more like a bonus for a lady who already has some appeal to me. Robyn first caught my attention on the forums, but her profile had always interested me, for example. She wasn't on the top of my list for ladies to see, but she was there.
If a lady I was interested in seeing was not on the forums much (and most ladies pop their head in only once or twice a month to mention holidays, a tour or to address an inquiry or complaint about them - I don't disapprove of this, by the way... they are busy people), I'd first try to work out what they may be like based on reviews and other mp.net's comments about them. For example, does she provide a GFE or a PSE? Does she guide the booking or does she prefer to let the client set the pace? etc etc.
I don't think I could actually even list criteria. Check out my review of Robyn and it'll tell you that based on my regular criteria, I really shouldn't have picked her (being young and poor-ish, I generally look for lower rates and younger women). The various conversations she and I had over the forums convinced me though, that she would be a great lady to see (and she was exceptional).