Counter anecdote: Made some great friends through AirBNB when I rented an apartment for a few months in NY. We had a tradition where we would grill up different meals every Sunday on the back patio. After I left, the guy on the lease got a cat and named her Sunday. I still drop in when I'm in the area and we BBQ and trade tales. I think the length of the stay makes a big difference.
Overall I agree that it is self-defeating to directly pay for a friend. But you can find friends everywhere, even (indirectly) at the opposite end of business transactions.
Overall I agree that it is self-defeating to directly pay for a friend. But you can find friends everywhere, even (indirectly) at the opposite end of business transactions.