I used the word "predecessor" with a more of an ironic connotation. The awkward midpoint is spot on. Like it or not, but all of the hospitality exchange networ

I used the word "predecessor" with a more of an ironic connotation. The awkward midpoint is spot on. Like it or not, but all of the hospitality exchange networks seem to have failed so far (provided that a success implies creating value, with an indicator being profit and/or number of members). Even Couchsurfing, the most "successful" one of those was originally started as a service to find a free place to stay. It just happened that a great community formed around it. If we leave the community out, Airbnb in its essence is a "paid" hospitality exchange network. In a way Airbnb derives from the ideals of sharing economy, being a more of a peer-to-peer marketplace which promotes itself as a hospitality exchange service.