As I put it in another comment, in many countries, introduce a camera and somehow what amounts to prostitution becomes magically legal.

Drugs are cool, but easily addictive / bad in excess.

I don't see how sex is bad in any amount unless it interferes with daily life or health.

Could be both. To oversimplify, It is legal to pay someone for sex in a film as an entertainer. Just not in private.

Other places have hour long marriages to get around the problem.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. Prostitution is legal (or mostly legal) in many parts of the world. I would argue that most progressive leaning folks are in favour of a legal framework for sex workers. Sex work is work, whether it comes with a fancy word like "sex surrogate therapist" or a derogatory one like "hooker". The issue is controversial in many places, to some extent because of real issues of abuse/trafficking, but more so because of moralizing.

I would argue that all sex workers deserve respect, in front of judges or on HN, regardless of whether it's prostitution or surrogation.