I think every seller is free to sell items how he wants with or without escrow and if without doesn't mean you are a scammer or deserve red paint.
Of course wont send 2-3k$ to a stranger but lets be honest newbie or legendary it say nothing and even a person who did escrow many times
can still run away in the end with funds and seller is fucked up because buyer paid already.

I guess if someone don't want to use escrow find a way together to close a deal, if it is not feeling right then buy somewhere else and yes to be careful
is normal.

Escrow only protects the buyer not the seller.