I haven't written a single page for a penny less than $30 in at least 2 years and I believe Pheelyks hasn't written a page for less than $35 or $40.
So it means you haven't written for a writing company for the last 2 years? I don't know companies that would pay $35-$40 per page to their contracted writers.
Legitimate customers (ie. the ones that use the service in a legal and appropriate way) don't necessarily prefer the same person. They should use the paper as a model to start their own research and writing.
I have referred them to companies that I know are legit and I've helped them phrase the description for company orders that help them get what they need.
That's the bottom line. Working with a freelance writer doesn't bring any extra benefits to students (OTHER THAN a lower price). But now that you and Pheelyks seemingly charge THE SAME rates as legitimate companies do - what is the point for students to work with you rather than with legitimate essay services? Out of the hundreds of company writers there are at least 100 of equal quality.
From the customers' point of view, they probably don't care if they pay $30/pg (or more) to a company.
It's up to them, but I'd personally prefer to have a choice. It's like renting a car - working with a single freelance writer is like using your friend's car; everything may work fine until the car breaks down. When it breaks down - what are your choices? You may call your friend for help and spend a lot of time and money to get it fixed. When you rent from a company, you get it replaced or repaired same day (or within a few hours). No extra charges and piece of mind. Why would a student want to pay the same for less?
If the same thing happens with a company writer, the order either goes right back to the pool of hundreds of writers.
Right, a company has much more resources to deal with a crisis. You assume that during emergency you can still communicate; but what if you end up in a hospital? Nobody will contact the client in your name like a company would.
the customer is usually in the exact same position whether it's a company or a freelancer.
Not accurate. If a freelance writer like you have an emergency (ie. cannot get online), the client is left with no assistance. If the same freelance writer working with a company has an emergency, the company takes care of the problem (ie. looks for a new and equally good writer and reassigns the order). See my analogy about renting a car.
like FW pointed out, charge much more, and their rates are usually same/similar to those of major US/UK companies.
They may try to charge more - but customers get less for their money. Again, would you prefer to order custom software
for the same price from Google Inc. (ie. Google Corporation would be directly responsible for producing and delivering the software) or from a freelance programmer sporadically working for Google Inc?