Just wanted to get the general sense of how the punting scene is atm.

I find private to be generally unappealing right now because they're generally more expensive and trying for last minute upsells, located in shady units and winter has made my patience for bait and switches non existent.
I get you need to research the fakes but its seems like a lot more effort than before even with the help of this site.

Brothels seems to have covered this. Don't have to reveal everything but do privates offer anything that makes you choose them over a brothel?