@Dorothy206 What you have to realize is that for the most part, hosts come to this forum and others when they have a problem. So you are only seeing a small slice of experiences here. Most hosts don't come here to say that they have been hosting for years and never had a problem. Yet that is true for many, many hosts, if not the majority.
Now of course there will always be small or large issues a host has to deal with. Maybe the guest wasn't trying to do anything wrong, but just didn't realize they couldn't bring an extra person. That happened to me, but the guest and I worked it out with no hard feelings.
Maybe your water heater breaks down and the guests have no hot water for a day. You deal with it.
Not every issue has to be something that requires looking for Airbnb intervention, or having guests demanding refunds, or leaving bad reviews, or trashing the house. In fact, most situations don't. Most stays go fine, most guests are fine.
I have a private home share listing, and while I have been closed to bookings since March 2020 due to Covid, I have hosted since late 2016 and never had a "bad" guest. Never a bad review, never any damage. I've met wonderful people from all over the world who showed their appreciation in many ways. I keep in touch with some of them. I have never had to call Airbnb about anything regarding a guest, aside from a couple times when the guest wasn't answering my messages pre-arrival, and I asked Airbnb to try to get in touch with them.
You don't say what kind of listing you would have- home share, entire private suite or home where you live on site or next door, or an entire place where you don't live.
Each if those hosting models require different approaches. I don't need surveillance cameras because I live here. Guests can't throw a party, sneak in extra guests or pets, I don't need a long list of rules.
Entire home hosts require a different hosting model to avoid problems.
Some hosts, like me, refuse to use Instant Book. I want to be able to communicate with guests before accepting to share my home with them. I value quality over quantity and don't rely on Airbnb for my main income.
Other hosts are in it for the revenue, and want full occupancy. They like Instant Book. They may never see or meet their guests, who self-check in. They need surveillance cameras, and other security measures.
You have to think about the hosting model that works for you, then prepare for that.
One of the main things to realize is that you really can't expect much, if any, support from Airbnb. They are just a giant corporation now, they aren't our "partners". If you go into hosting with your eyes wide open, ask questions and get advice here from other hosts, and know what needs to be done to protect yourself, you don't need to be scared.
Don't make a huge investment, simple can be beautiful, and have a plan B, in case you find you don't enjoy it, or find it stressful.