Answer to the OP
Well if you find a girl down right ugly you can always decide to not see her, turn around if incall, or send her back if outcall.
Personally i will admit over the years i have been to a lot of industry parties wich made it possible to "make my list" of girls i met in person. Usually i would pick the girls i had the most chemistry with that also attracked me, but on ocasion there was girls i tough where just too pretty so i took a risk and well it turned out great actually.
Other times i would book girls with face pics or sometimes you see an SP that has many SP friends and she show you pictures of them on her cell to give you a general idea.
Booking completely "blind"... i actually didn't do it super often but i never saw a girl i tough was down right ugly. I can recall maybe 2-3 girls that i tough where "average looking" but i saw them in smaller agencies and they where not charging the "par" ammount of the time.
But reading the OP's post, i feel you are maybe aiming "too high"
For instance what you say about Amy Lee, ok i seen her last time in 2012 so its a while ago but to say she is a "dude with bolt on" is so false. I remember her having a rocking body. Yes she is a bit older than the general young SP but she is a fine looking more mature lady. If i had more budget i would see her again for sure.
Personally over the years i seen many SP that i tough where as hot, if not more, than most celebrity.
I do agree on one aspect, and its probably more true in Winter, the agency girls in Montreal usually do not "doll up" that much. Personally its not something that bother me, but i can understand some old fashion older guys would prefer that. But you have to take into consideration its winter, its cold, they come out of there cloaths and put them back on many times a night. I would say you will have more chance to get what you want seeing high price indies.
As for the "alternative look" well usually you can know this by reviews. I will admit the recent years haircut style are not my favorite, im a sucker for old school shoulder/back long hair and im not too fond of over tatooing or percing but even as i say that one of my all time favorite had many tatoos... so always depend on the girl.
But ill give you one thing, arm pit hair SHOULD BE DISCLOSED before a booking for sure. Its something that would make me highly uncomfortable and i wish i would be able to notice it before time has passed too much so its still possible to cancel. Its simple, to me a women must look feminine and exept on her head there shouldn't be much body hair anywhere. As i said a couple time i don't mind a "stripe" or a "V" well groomed but thats about it. Nothing beat a clean smooth laser done pussy. But ultimately i think i could "live" more with a bit more hairy (as long as its not a forest) downstair than arm pit. It may be psychological and i know it does not change her service or face beauty etc, but to me its a killer.