Those are all great points and things to consider. For me, it's simply a matter of principle. Fundamentally, I don't believe it's the governments job to stop

Those are all great points and things to consider. For me, it's simply a matter of principle. Fundamentally, I don't believe it's the governments job to stop people from engaging in risky behavior or even hurting themselves. The role of government is to protect us from being hurt by other people. When you look at US laws that attempt to regulate carnal living, they're all over the place. Cigarettes are legal, but not marijuana. Alcohol is okay, but not shromes. We make people wear seat-belts, but don't limit their McDonalds intake. Our age restrictions are crazy too. You can die for your country, but you're too young to have a beer. Our laws are a mess because they are written based on money, popular opinion & emotion instead of figuring out how to protect without depriving others of their personal liberty. Just like freedom of speech, I might not agree with what you say/do, but I'll fight for your right to say/do it, as long as it doesn't deprive others of their rights. Much like I support Westboro Baptist Church's right to free speech, I support the legalization of prostitution out of principle, even if it's not something I approve of personally. The strength of your principles are usually measured at the extremes.