We are only targeting developers at this point. And that too, people with enough experience to command these rates. Hence the $35/hr minimum.

Also, this fair-pay guarantee is what we hope will attract the folks who will be lost in the noise at Elance/oDesk.

We debated the escrow arrangement, but decided that we step out of the way once the employer and provider reach an arrangement. Other freelance sites stay on as middlemen, because the revenue model is in taking commission off the development fee.