Warmshowers is great! I've been lucky to host 4 individuals over the past two summers, and was a guest while touring New Zealand.

I have declined 2 requests to stay with me because those individuals didn't have any user reviews, but as long as a traveller has only positive reviews, and it fits my schedule I'm all for it. I usually cross reference using couchsurfing, which a lot of people who use warmshowers are also on and also usually has a bit more personal info.

It's generally a lot of fun, getting to share touring stories/experiences and meet lots of interesting people (I've hosted a Polish guy who biked around the world, and a couple from New Zealand who had lived all over the world). I've ridden to the outskirts of town to help guide people to my place, given a car tour of Niagara Falls to check out the fireworks and just shared a lot of fun times. I owe a lot to my host in New Zealand, she allowed me to stash my bike box and luggage I had from a semester abroad for 7 weeks.

In practice it can be great if you are comfortable with it, but it really isn't for everybody.

If anyone is ever in the Niagara Region drop me a line through warmshowers, my username is Goodluck.