This is truly fascinating. Riley may be one of very few who have seen both sides of the coin and can truly appreciate the nuances. Perhaps you can write a book one day! LOL.
cookiesandcream - for sure it happens. I've always maintained that it's far better not to get mix business with pleasure (or hobbying pleasure with personal pleasure). But it happens. I don't think it's nearly as common as clients falling for SPs. But, based on my limited anecdotal experience, when SPs fall, they tend to fall hard.
I would think that SPs put up walls and are pretty careful about who they let in. They full well know the fantasy they project and they know that who we see is not necessarily who they really are. As one girl said "he's in love with the idea of me, but not with me."
But, we're all human. Guys can be very charming, generous and thoughtful. We can show an SP a world that she may have only dreamed about before; to be cherished, loved and cared for...but as more than just a sex object. There's also a great deal of appeal to being able to let down your SP-guard while at the same time being close to someone who knows what that world is about. (The alternative being to engage in a relationship where the SPs work is kept a total secret from her partner.) For sure, SPs can fall for amazing clients who sweep them off their feet. As another girl said, "stuff that happens in movies never happens to me...." but then it did.
My theory is that SPs tend to fall hard, if and when they fall, because it takes so much to convince them to let down their guard. So when they do, they're quite a few steps ahead in getting their minds around someone as a partner. Likewise, they tend to be much more tolerant of flaws. Again, my theory is that they've already formed a strong opinion of a person. Admitting that he is deeply flawed would also mean admitting that her judgment was wrong. So, when they fall, they fall hard.
But, given the nature of their work, they are also very good compartmentalizing. So, if it doesn't work out, the guy might find himself out in the cold, with the light just turned off.