Yes, and the Sugar System is a big draw.
For the ones who do participate in sex work, they like a system where it is seems very safe and tgey watch all those videos on the Seeking site that imply tgat sex might not even be part of the deal.
I think you are missing one other thing that is attractive about SA: the thought of having one regular Sugar Daddy is a whole hell of a lot more appealing than working as an escort and having your pussy pounded 5-10 times a day by men who are total strangers. The girl I see regularly told me that being intimate with one guy regularly is what she was looking for. While this attitude is not true of all SBs, it's a common theme and many are looking for a monogamous arrangement with one guy who isn't a stranger, who they have an opportunity to connect with (or not) and is someone they know in advance what he is looking for and what that is worth to him.
The other draw is good money for a time commitment that is relatively short. For the 18-22s who have classes and part time jobs and very little free time on their hands, the realistic economic alternatives are short and lucrative dates on SA or driving for Door Dash or Uber Eats which is more time and less money. I did date one lady who was full time with Door Dash and part time dating SDs. Nice girl, high school grad struggling to make ends meet and support her mother and son and sister who were all living with her as the only source of household income.
The safety issues have been over discussed and overrated in these threads. However, for many women on SA, the advent of Zoom and video chats on SA is a comfort as far as safety screening. The logic of that perception has been attacked, but because perception becomes reality, the logic is completely irrelevant. It simply is what it is, and what it is is a safety concern ameliator.
So all of these factors have served to deplete the pool of 18-22s escort candidates in the past 5-7 years, as SD sites have increased in popularity. Just speaking for myself personally, it's replaced seeing escorts. I see one woman regularly now for the past couple years since I was ditched by another one after declining a request to be her Baby Daddy after an arrangement morphed into a relationship. I kind of feel sorry for you guys that supply has been depleted, but it is what it is. It's the market. Just like with the irreversible spread of automation, you can't stop the development of this economic ecosystem within the commercial sex industry. It's here to stay.
Patron had been predicting the demise of SA for the last 10 years. Then he found out Matt Goetz was on SA and there was a palpable epiphany in his posts. He realized that all the politicians, who drive LE agendas, are dirty devils on SA and, like Goetz, are on a feeding frenzy for 18-22s (and in his case maybe younger). Once Patron had that epiphany, he realized that LE is controlled by politicians and politicians like Trump and Goetz need SA. So it ain't going anywhere nor are the dozens of like websites.