The way I see is punting is effectively short term prostitution, sugar babies are long term prostitution/arrangements and dating involves more emotional involvement and exclusivity although there is a transactional nature to it as well similar to the other two.
Having been seeing escorts for the last 14yrs, I've had sex with lots of hot girls but it isn't exactly the most fulfilling activity. You are on a clock and you are effectively busting a nut in a condom which isn't great. There are other stuff you can do like titwank, deepthroat, body to body ,etc.
I've never tried sugar babies but anyone who has a long term arrangement with a sugar baby so you eventually get to have sex with them raw?
Dating arguably is the most fulfilling option but no man has unlimited choice of women when it comes to dating unless you are a famous rockstar or Leonardo Di caprio, etc.
If you don't want kids as well like me, then there is an additional dilemma and complication there
How would people rank the three - dating , punting , sugar babies in terms of overall fulfillment, intimacy, etc.