I can't believe so many guys here got hooked
Is that, like, normal in the USA?
I haven't been hooked. I wouldn't call it normal in the usa so much as it may be just as normal where you come from, or anywhere else. In other words...a comparison of prostitution rates from around the world would show some good data
Then again, wherever prostitution is illegal, you're going to have high chances at not getting a good product and or end result.
The other thing that sucks is that we live in a day and age where people simply want to "do the deed" just because they're horny enough they want to "get some". Perhaps not even caring where the satisfaction (if at times they label it as satisfaction) comes from or who it's with (but, hell, if people can pay money for it, it must mean it's good). Sex has gotten degraded to only the sheer mechanics and movements of it. This is where many learn that sex really isn't that great, and that it really sucks when it drives you to do stupid stuff in the name of being horny. Under all of this sex just can't be worth it through the eyes of self-esteem and responsibility.
It's worth a lot less trouble and no shame followed by happiness to just wait until you meet someone who you hit it off with and eventually "do" that person in what will most likely be beautifully memorable if not only "a lot better" of an experience. This also asks certain questions. When is sex so satisfyingly nirvanic for individuals? And who will actually pay attention when it will be for them?