Several of them requested anonymity for fear of legal retribution and to protect business relationships.A year in, things looked good.

IMO the main benefit is anonymity if they are set up properly.If you register your LLC in a state outside of Maryland, then be sure to register it to do business in Maryland.

It takes a bit of time but unless you have some great legal advise and follow it precisely, the promised anonymity is not there in most cases. 

But a disregarded LLC is really only good for anonymity. 

Anonymity is not asset protection and adds no additional protection.

So although the common wisdom or recommendation is to talk to a lawyer (which I did) I'm getting conflicting advice on this whole issue of Wyoming LLCs and the level of protection and anonymity they actually provide. 

For many folks in your position, the only real advantage to an LLC is if you want the pass through entity with a partnership/S-corp or the anonymity aspect.

So although the common wisdom or recommendation is to talk to a lawyer (which I did) I'm getting conflicting advice on this whole issue of Wyoming LLCs and the level of protection and anonymity they actually provide.

They generally at best help to provide anonymity. 

Since we began lending in 2010, allour loans have been to local house flippers we met at the local real estate clubs and with whom we’ve formed some long relationships.Unless you live in an area with no local REI clubs, there is no reason to do business online or anonymously.