I have done several bitcoin trades with local bitcoin. I bought bitcoin from localbitcoins. I paid money through bank transfer and get the bitcoin later. No problem at all.
Just going on localbitcoins, finding a buyer or seller there, and then meeting with them is not as problematic as setting up an account to buy/sell and then
advertising there. It is the
advertising your willingness to buy/sell that makes it look like a business and may require a license. Just using the localbitcoins service to locate a buyer/seller who has an ad on the site does not make you look like a business.
I wonder how risky is that in other countries where the laws are not that strict. tbh you and a couple of other cases are the only ons I heard of having problems. Did lbtc ever result into people having problems in other countries ?