Yes, I have, and I will continue to do so: it's just so much more fun to try out an Airbnb listing than to go to a Holiday Inn....you never quite know what you are going to get, but that is part of the attraction!
I go very carefully through the pictures and description. If I find real poor pictures, like way too dark or too much stuff on the counters, or no lights next to the bed (a must for me as I read before going to sleep), and/or sloppy description with weird house rules, I don't bother, then I'm better off in a hotel room. So I trust my own instincts about a place much more than the reviews. But if a place has visible mark downs or a real bad review, I won't go.
I don't tell people right away per message that I am a fellow host, it comes out easily enough when we get to the point of personal contact. Makes no difference to me if a place has IB or not, priority is that I'd want to go to the specific place I selected, I can wait a few hours for the response.
So far it all has worked out great, stayed at great places with nice hosts:) Except for probably one - but interestingly enough that was very early in my Airbnb experience: it was way overpriced for what it was ($185) , but it was the only thing in the whole area, hotel rooms were over $200. they had glowing reviews, looked real romantic, but I decided after my stay that it was a shtick, the hosts were just milking people for as much as they could get.... interestingly enough, their "review" for each guest was and is always the same : "thank you." that's it, but it already tells of the totally impersonal attitude.
Anyhow, the only thing that at times keeps me from renting through Airbnb is that I might not be ready to make a commitment far in advance for a specific date and then , when I'm ready, the places I'd want are already booked. Not wanting to set myself up for disappointment, I then just book a regular hotel room.
Love the whole Airbnb thing! Looking forward to my new guests coming in in a few hours - I already know that they are really interesting!