Very interesting to see the SPs point of view as well, a booking that doesn't take place due to no show is a loss for the SP when they could potentially have filled that slot - no pun intended.
Its a choice, at the end of the day, if you want the punt and she asks for a deposit, thats how it goes, if you dont want to pay, then no punt. A few quid here or there is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things
This also comes down to trust, if you do your homework, look at the reviews and feedback etc then why not. If you pay a small deposit and it falls through, isn't that better than going to a punt, it being a B&S or a complete waste of time where you have lost the full amount.
Thats my take on the matter - you might agree, you might not. I am not asking you to agree or criticise - everyone is different - thats what makes the world go round