Amen, glad to have never used AirBnB. I also often use booking.com, but you should know they regularly f over smaller businesses that use them to host their rooms. I generally stick to big chains when using their platform, or use it as 'hotel google' before following up and negotiating a price directly with a smaller hotel. Much like Uber squeezes small business (menu items often 20-30% higher on Uber menu vs real menu) booking.com exploits the smaller accommodation providers so they appreciate direct bookings.

I have never stayed in an Airbnb and never will. There is a consistency to chain hotels I have come to appreciate very much.

Payment policy is set by the individual hotels on booking.com, so sometimes it's pay on the spot, sometimes pay in advance. The same with cancellation.