Ok, but after I pay back the DRK, he has no more reason to pay me back my BTC, no?
I am new to borrowing like this, so please correct me if I am wrong.
If using escrow there are three parties:
1) you send your BTC to escrow
2) escrow notifies lender, who sends you DRK
3) when you pay back your DRK the lender notifies escrow
4) escrow pays back your BTC to you
without escrow you need to find a lender you trust as you are 100% required to send coins first.