I chose a $28 hostel dorm in Barcelona over a free couchsurfing stay last month. The couchsurfing host wanted me to hang out for 3 hours every evening, which kills my solo exploring time. Has anyone else found that paying a bit more actually saves your trip vibe?
You're acting like a host asking for a few hours of company is some kind of prison sentence. Plenty of couchsurfing hosts just want a quick chat over coffee and then let you do your thing. Maybe the real issue is picking a host that matches your travel style rather than blaming the whole system.