You are probably correct in thinking the .01btc fee minimum is a bit much with the price being where it is but using the trusted guys makes your transaction safer. Escrows also have to deal with alot of bullshit with most transactions. I personally have been involved in deals that take half a day or longer because 1 party logs off, then replies and other party is offline. It's just too much a mess to deal with half the time.
Monbux, SebastianJu, and a handful of others listed in the escrow thread(I am not searching the link) are the way to go in most cases. You can try to speak with 1 of them and ask for a lower fee.
**EDIT**
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=855778.0 To add to this... of the big 3, one says straight off the top .01 minimum. I get that, he doesn't have time to fuck with the bullshit.
I sent 2 PM's and sent PM's to the other 2 of the big 3 threads.
1 Never responded.
The other did with a .01 BTC fee.
Now, this transaction was for a mere $1375. Do you not think that .01 is insane on that amount?
In defense of all the others, I did not contact them, and they may be great. Shit I hope I can meet them. But of the BIG 3, I get the impression if its less than $10k, they don't have time or give a shit.
Scrap'
One of the reasons as well as I hate giving loans with escrows. Usually they take a long ass time to respond to a request then each action also takes very long. I guess expediency is not the number one priority with them. Not to mention they are paid to do this, I would understand if they weren't. Not that I care about fees, since it is for the account of the borrower, but still indeed 0.01btc as fees are quite unreasonable at this point.
The issue I have with them is when collateral value drops and they are holding it for me. It would take hours before they can take action which would mean breaking even or totally lose on the loan if they do not liquidate the collateral in time.
If you'd like I can help you out, I charge about 2mbtc or 1% whichever is higher, though I don't usually do it only if people pm me asking about it. Anyway, good luck OP.