This forum has helped me realize how most readers are not consistent. For everyone who says that a reader was good, there is someone to say that s/he didn't work. There are a couple of readers with really stellar reputations but 99% of the threads are a mix of good and bad. So this forum has definitely made me pause before just calling up a reader.
Unfortunately (for me), I haven't completely stopped... it's because I can rationally know that the readings are not going to give me the reassurance I seek but I still slip sometimes and feel so desperate that I call.