Thanks for sharing your insight Carlos, nice to see a little bit of history vs. how things are now. I do know that with studios now there are a few issues (beyond the ones they've always had):
1) A good model can save enough money to go it alone - if she's motivated to do so. Several performers working from home have been begged to death by ex-bosses and other studios to join them, even at insane rates. Lesson: Really good talent is much harder now for studios to find, and retain.
2) Savvy webmasters and even customers can get into the game by offering promotion. I have done this myself, including being part of a studio.
3) With the sites paying less and many having more models online at once, coupled with the low US dollar means a lot less money to go around. Ask any chat host who has been online for 3 or 4+ years and they will tell you: Making good money now is much harder than just a few years ago.
4) Sites are trying to prevent performers from working on other sites, obviously, but for studios and performers working 3,4,8 or more sites at once is how they have done well. So it's a catch 22 for the sites - if you want your girls exclusive and force it, then you may lose them altogether as they can't make enough with you alone.
DirectSex was (is?) a good site for members as it has a relatively unique business model. Like SecretFriends and PrivateCamz they are based more on member area plug-ins then direct promotion. They also do not have private chat - only group chat. It therefore has less members and no 300+ beggars in free chat. It creates a more intimate, community feel where the members often know each other (on the site that is) and the performers.
LiveCamNetwork is different in that it uses local Montreal girls primarily (if that has changed, someone correct me) which has a big appeal for some while not for others. It also has the best video chat system and the models - similar to DirectSex - are much more interactive. The chat rooms are less busy as well. So it's a sort of sub-niche, but works for the customers that prefer their approach.
I have nothing else to say at the moment, so I'll stop here
