You have to remember also, that most of the business in the high dollar places is corporate money. It's less common for a guy to go to one of these places himself, or with a mate (though not unheard of!). In Korea and Japan, hostess bars of membership bars come in a range of prices and the cheaper ones are basically the same as the Gogo bars in thailand. The premium places are very exclusive though. Due to the fairly strict Confucian rules governing formal conversation, business meetings are pretty much just lectures; if you're the senior person then you do all the talking and everyone else just listens and agrees. The real communication happens after work at "office dinners". If you work in a big company, attendance is compulsory, at least 2 nights a week or more. These dinners often have 3 rounds; first at a pub/restaurant, then at a karaoke, and thirdly the senior management or company guests will go to the hostess bars. The company picks up the tab.

Same story with higher end negotiations. It's hard to put a price on creating the right atmosphere for business, and premium hostess bars know how to do it. It's just one of the perks of being in a corporate job, like flying business class, staying 5 star, expensive meals on your business visa, taxi limo etc... Most of these you wouldn't pay out of your own pocket, but if it's a perk of the job, why not?

For sex theres plenty of other options too, and there's options for company. I love the barber shop handjob places that also give you a shave in Korea, coffee delivery girls, coffee shops where you get to look up girls skirts, blowjob bars, cuddle clubs, image clubs etc...