I appreciate your comments about providing ongoing education but it seems even this is a real gamble.... at least for the renter. 

An internet-connected device would be ideal, so I could monitor remotely. 

I know that appreciation is a gamble, but if a city's economy is diversified and there is a finite amount of land in the prime location that is downtown/waterfront then chances are it should appreciate, right?

BUT, through the ever-expanding magic of the internet, you can still assess the honesty of a provider (to some degree) by using Google Earth to virtually walk the streets of the neighborhoods you'd be investing in.

This was pre internet days so immediate access to credit was not there Not the case I’m today’s world I guess the takeaway is always hire a good full time property manager upfront let them do what they get paid for and don’t cut corners Hiring a Realtor that is not a Property manager to find a tenant only and to save the monthly management fee Is Like going to the dentist and being told you need a route canal.

You can msg privately if you don't feel like blasting out on the internet where it is.I've seen R3S by Stanford before but not R3H or at least how you have it written.

After reviewing the lease it does state that "the Tennant must provide Landlord with high speed internet" which has been signed and initialed by us. 

But of course that’s the gamble. 

I currently live in the DFW area and rent a 1 bedroom apartment for around $876 a month, maybe $1000 with water, electricity, internet, etc included; my lease ends at the end of May.

There are plenty of articles on the internet.