I'd say it makes it easier, but that doesn't mean it's better. When I first started punting it was phone numbers from the back of The Sport or from phone booths in the RLD of Norwich. Better than that was seeing them on the streets, therefore knowing for sure what they look like, although this obviously was a far riskier process having to avoid the police while trying to pick them up.
Although it may be easier, it's also far more irritating as probably 90-95% of WG's profiles on AW do not leave me confident to make a booking. (No facial pics, EE's, shit pics, dodgy feedback etc)