I will give it a go as I would prefer to stay in a home where I can have access to a kitchen for coffee etc. Also, the fact that I am paying and would be able to post a feedback on www.roomft.com would make my host more committed.
I tried couch surfing before but it did not really work out well as my host thought she was doing me a favour.
You can post feedback on global freeloaders too. The people who I have stayed with for free have usually been extremely welcoming hosts who sincerely enjoy meeting new people. People I've met who charge are often just trying to make easy money.
I would always choose a hostel first (and there are plenty to choose from in the Elizabeth Bay/Kings Cross area). Original Backpackers or the Blue Parrot are in the same area and you also get kitchen facilities and plenty of other travellers to talk to for around the same price. You can come and go as you please in a hostel and not feel like you're intruding on someone else's home.
A service like this could come in handy for towns and cities that don't have hostels like Leeds or Kansas City (but I checked and there is nothing available) or during busy periods like festivals and sporting events when other accommodation fills up.
The problem with couch surfing or staying at people's homes is that you're usually way out in the suburbs. I generally like to stay within a half-hour walk of the city centre. In your case you're lucky that Elizabeth Bay is within a half hour walk of downtown Sydney.
If you are sharing a room then you shouldn't have to pay any more than you would in a hostel. $20 sounds fair.
20 AUD for a Couch in Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales
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