It is all platforms and there is a name for it:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification

My personal rule of thumb for profile age is that if the profile was created before 2015-2016 (when the internet started to get a bit crazy with misinformation ahead of a certain presidential election), I'll generally proceed as long as they're interacting like a normal person (not a bot) and their profile looks otherwise legit.

These gatherings provide a platform for exchanging experiential wisdom, offering insights that textbooks and online resources often can't replicate.

It's a user-friendly platform and the listing process is smooth.

If there are legit issues with the rental that's on me.

seems like the investors in the area are far and few on this platform. 

I use it on all bookings, on and off platform because they don't ask the guest to pay the damages which avoids potentially strained interactions and therefore retaliation reviews.

Your fear that it is going to be a lot of work is 100% legit because it is a lot of work.

While MLS remains the primary platform for on-market deals, the majority of deals I encounter originate from off-market sources, often through wholesale channels.

You want to see the deals they get and move before they go to those platforms.