Yes it is changing for sure, simply because clients are complying, and as Anna has said some SP still don’t have the privilege to be able to ask for it.
As far as references it is not a problem for me, ID sorry there is no way I will provide that to an SP, and as far as deposits I have been burned with that with well known and reviewed SP but also have had things go smoothly also. Deposits do not provide any safety for an SP that is pure BS, it does get rid of time wasters and cancellations.
I can agree to an anonymous deposit with a photograph of an Amazon gift card or other redemption code, if I really want to see someone that bad, but e-transfer never.
The thing, a few years ago, technology was much less present. Yes iphones/android have been around for a while now but especially when it comes to older folks they were not always present, lots of peoples had old clipper phones for instance. I feel more the technology evolve, more it seem easier to demand stuff like a picture of an ID wich 15 years ago would had require someone to actually scan the thing on an old school scanner/computer. Not everybody had a smart phone like now. So maybe it make it easier to demand these things? In any case, like you i could use the Amazon gift card if its somebody i truly truly trust and want to see badly, but etransfer is offlimit. Reference and giving Merb name is not an issue either, but ID its too personal. I don't want any random strangers to have my date of birth and altough i don't have a driver liscence (so nothing with my adress), lets just say its something i would not give to someone i don't know just like that.
I will say, however, that not being willing to comply with these requirements, especially for established providers, is really misplaced paranoia. Providers care about their safety and not having their time wasted. They don't care about your legal name and they certainly have no interest in ruining their reputation over a small deposit by scamming you. Even if it seems irrational to me, clients can certainly choose not to submit their ID and move on to someone else. But for the love of god, don't contact someone with a clear policy requiring it if you don't want to follow their procedures and try to bypass her screening. It only confirms you're a boundary pusher and shows a lack of respect or consideration for this provider's sense of safety. It is one of the reasons she's screening to begin with.
I don't think its paranoia personally. I been giving my real first name for as long as i can remember, and on ocasions i did gave my full name but they gave me theirs as well (usually they gave me their Facebook to add them). I feel when we exchange name etc its a mutual trust that is establish and i dig that. About the deposit, you are right for most. That said Fradi did say he got burned before, and i seen reports of some providers who advertised on known site like here and terb actually cancelling a tour or something and not refunding deposits. I understand why they are demanded as much these days and i really despise clients who ghost/no show/cancel last minute. Im not one of those. When i book i intend for the meeting to happen, even if im tired or else. That said maybe its easier for me as i go to Montreal specifically for this, so i can plan my schedule around it, i mean i enjoy other stuff but the rest is secondary while in in town and i won't sweat if i can't visit a store i wanted to. But clients should definately stop booking on their lunch break or whatever, or when they ain't sure they won't be able to make it. But im also sure a lot of the "clients" cancelling are not really clients but trolls/sw haters who do it on purpose just to be aholes.
Anyway. Personally as you say i just avoid providers who ask for a "curiculum vitae" when booking. The only time i think i could try anyway is if i met one of her friend (knowing they are friends, like duo partners or the other SP told me herself) and i would tell her i could provide her friend for reference + merb ID. But i would say it right away in introduction to not waste time. Im sure some would be entitled to have their full form be filled anyway, but common sense should tell if her friend vouche for this person, he is ok.
In any case, its funny because personally i got nothing to hide, my whole family and friend circle know i meet, i couldn't care less my name would be publish in the newspaper as "this John bough sex services" because i love this business, im not ashame of doing it by one bit, i feel the immoral/weird thing is that its actually still a criminal act. But even i got my limit on what ill share right away before even meeting a person.
To answer Sene5hoes to finish
As for Leolist, well there is some legit ads there, sometimes its great providers, some who even advertise here too, sometimes its legit provider but who offer mediocre services. I saw one add recently, REALLY hot lady, full face pic, crazy body, verified, look legit as it can be. I was like "wow how come i never heard of her". Some researches led me to reviews wich were less than positive... That was "the catch". Sometimes tough its hillarious, they use pics from well known instagram models and put ridiculous ammounts like 120$ ... yeah right, who fall for that? But i guess some dudes just don't know better, google "montreal escort", find leolist, look some ads and try to book the one that appeal to them without any researches...