What do you have to do to escrow a deal, just hold the funds until the counterparty says it's OK to release them? Is it that much of a pain in the ass to be one?
More or less yes. It's just holding the funds till whatever is greed upon is delivered.
But, they also get to mediate disputes and occasionally deal with the physical merch at times depending on the deal.
For the most part now, from what I can see it's for newer members with no reputation to have the ability to deal with us older more paranoid people.
-Dave