It's the automatic association all the responders make between high-end and expensive. That's the false equivocation I was trying to point out, and that the term "high-end" doesn't actually mean anything here since at best it means expensive, and at worst it means something different to everyone.
A good provider that has an online presence is a very practical definition, except what is good to you? Bbbj only? See where I'm going...
Prices changed, yes, but did services? Can you say that definitively? I've never had a follow up visit with a lady who ballooned in price but I'm skeptical of there being a significant change. You're starting to equivocate expensive with high-end again. I would argue 400/hr is not high end. If I wanted to splurge and go for the cream of the crop, first off I wouldn't know where to start since they don't post on LL, Tryst, TERB, etc., but second of all I would expect to be paying 4 figures minimum. If the average is 300, how is 100 more high-end in a hobby when there's almost no limit to the hourly rate?
Hypothetical for you - if you see a lady now at 260/hr who is building her rep, and in 6months from now she's asking $800/hr. Did you see a high-end lady or a low-end lady? It's the same lady, 6 months apart.
What if that same lady who could command $800/hr but does this for a side gig, not to live, never raises her rates and remains at 260/hr for just her regulars. Posts no ads. Has no site. Is she low-end? I would argue she is more high end than your $1000/hr ladies posting daily since she is only even known by a select few, so she is exclusive. The ones posting daily, while expensive, are available to any guy willing to spend that much, within reason (screening and number of clients needed to see etc.,).
This is all just semantics and personal opinion, of course, but it does seem silly to say a lady is high-end because she chose to charge $500/hr. What a lady chooses to charge is based on nothing other than what she decides is a fair rate for her time and services. Some may look at themselves and think they're a bad bitch so you should pay a ton just to be in their presence....but we're talking about good providers lol.