Quite a few interesting points. I thought I'd comment on a few of them.
Face pictures are important to me and I see no good reason why a prossie can't provide one (emailing me one is virtually risk free). It is her prerogative of course and, punting outside of London, you sometimes have to give a little. That said I will usually make clear to the prossie that I will walk if I do not find her attractive, as is my prerogative.
Jimmy's point, however, that being willing to walk does not make it risk free is correct. You lose time and travel expense and either or both can be significant. Also you may have taken time off work, lied to the partner (incurring risk), etc.
In terms of getting too many search results I'd say my problem tends to be getting too few! What I wouldn't give for 1000+ possibilities. Also part of the fun (occasionally anyway) is spending a couple of hours browsing AW.
I never search 'available now'. I can see logic to it, but it would massively reduce my search return (down into single figures on many occasions) and have me miss plenty of prossies who are available, who don't display this, who I do want to see.
I think becoming more picky has a lot to do with Jimmy's and other's woes, but is not necessarily a bad thing. I am far choosier now than when I started punting. One of the good things about ageing is that you have a better understanding of what you like and can therefore spend less time doing things (or prossies
) that you don't.