I don't make it a habit to use airbnb or similar sites but the 2 times I've used it for hobby were good experiences (again I did mention you have to be extra careful (esp if using them for P4P reasons be it hobby or sugar (quite a few articles out on the reasons why))).
I plan to use it for my Austin and ATL trips but those two are mostly personal visits. I generally have a preference for 3-star or better hotels but I like a change once in a while. Hotel or residence type incall i'm not seeing a kajilion people daily anyhow. Picking the right spot and low foot traffic is pretty key no matter where you're doing the do.