A special thanks to everyone who has responded to my post today. It seems that Evolve has spoiled me these past three years, and my wake up call is now. I shall no longer live in the āfoolās paradiseā as they say. Nevertheless, I cannot help thinking that these platforms have gained way too much power in this. They can make these policies to avoid charge backs and cancellation repercussions, and until I have my own platform I am subject to their rules, but my adherence does not mean that I agree with it or believe it to be fair business practice. Cancellations and chargebacks are only a tiny fraction of the financial risk and expense that vacation rental homeowners have to face. It is the homeowners who hold licenses, can get fined, and pay for all of the expenses involved in making our properties suitable for guests. The web platforms do not share this financial burden at all.
To answer the point about avoiding scams, in my mind ensuring that scammers are not advertising on Airbnb, etc is the responsibility of the web platform corporation, and that liability should not fall on the homeowner. We have nothing to do with their screening process, which should be in place to prevent such things. If a customer does fall victim to a scam on Airbnb or a similar web site, then that web site, not the legitimate homeowners who advertise on it, face that liability and should pay for the make good due to the customer.