This is an interesting topic, but I wonder if it needs to be limited to the hobby. As for "civilian" life, I would prefer a "regular," but life doesn't always go according to plan. I've never been married, and have only ever truly loved one woman I had been with. Every other woman before, and since, has been disappointing for one reason or another. I think part of the problem is that I have a hard time connecting with most people, so it's difficult for me to feel truly romantic toward the woman in question. This causes problems when the woman gets attached though, especially when she says, "I love you." I just can't bring myself to say, "I love you," back, if I don't mean it.
Fortunately, the hobby is here to save the day! Interestingly enough, given what I had stated above, I think that I would ideally prefer to find an ATF. I've gone for variety for the most part, but had seen a few providers several times. It's easier to see a familiar provider, especially since I know what to expect. For me, nothing is more disappointing than finding out that DATY is not on the menu; that scenario is avoided by seeing a provider that I had already met.
Even the hobby can get strange though. I had one provider that I had seen several times start texting me, telling me that she missed me (well, my money at least) and that she wanted to hang out. Her real agenda was that she wanted me to drive her to meet a client. I had to quickly wash my hands of that. Interestingly enough, she had a sister that was a provider, who I had seen twice. The second time I had seen her, she told me to call her, but not for the hobby. I had thought that was kind of strange. It got worse when I had tried to set up an appointment with her later, and it turned out to be her father's number, but nobody had answered at the time. I got an irrate voicemail filled with cursing, but he didn't explain the situation, and out of curiousity, I had called the number. I admitted nothing, but somehow he blamed me for his adult daughter's decisions. I was close to telling him that I had been with both of his daughters.
Anyway, I digress. A part of me is already resigned to the fact that I'll probably get tricked into marrying a woman who doesn't love me, have children that don't respect me, get divorced and pay child support, eventually have a heart attack and get fired not long after, then linger on for another forty years before ending up dead and face-down in a ditch, cold and alone. Ultimately, if I could afford it, I'd eschew dating entirely, find a couple of ATF's to meet my man-needs, and avoid all of that.