I am the opposite! Because I host in my own home, I am comfortable with IB. I’m right here, you don’t get away with any crap behaviour otherwise you’re out on your arse. If I was listing a precious second home as an entire property and I was not nearby to check on things, pffff…
Having said that, I have concluded that you just can’t tell what guests will be like. I used to rigorously “screen” guests before I would accept them. After a year or so, I began to notice that there was no correlation at all between the communication/profile info/photo and behaviour of guests. Once I felt confident and sure of what I was doing and, crucially, realised that Airbnb don’t give a damn, I figured that IB would make no difference to the quality of guests and would boost me in the search rankings.
I was right. I’m fully booked most of the time, guests are just the same as they ever were, IB or no. You can say ‘it all depends on your listing’ but in reality I’m not sure it does. I think it all depends on your guests, end of the day. Did you draw the psycho? Or the scammer intent on partying? etc.
My absolute worst guests EVER have always been super great at communication prior to arrival, lovely smiley photo, super duper profile, oh we’re so excited to stay at your place, blah de blah de blah. Turned out to be fXXXs of the highest order. This has happened numerous times (I’ve hosted over 1000 guests just for context). So yeah, don’t be afraid of IB. But don’t do it unless you feel confident, damn, such a contradiction!
In essence, kid yourself that you’re a cautious and dutiful host by not using IB and screening all your wonderful guests and believing all their nice words and pretty photo and oh, of course, the clincher - Govt ID! Phew! That Airbnb verified govt ID will miraculously ensure that nobody pisses in your bed or has a party or trashes your kitchen, eats a durian fruit in their bedroom etc etc,
In conclusion, nothing is ever guaranteed - ever.