Back when I was only a student on this site, I tried to search for language partners here when I was studying Russian or Romanian. It wasn't always easy to actually have the conversations because life got in the way. Ideally, I would have practiced once or twice a week with them, but sometimes my language partner would disappear too, so I would be right back where I started. :/ It definitely sucks when a partner disappears, and I've had it happen a few times.

I’m agree with you. I had some experiences where my partners just went MIA or kept coming late to our meeting. There are thousands of teachers on italki. I’m sure I will always find a teacher on my budget range. How about you?

I know it can be frustrating when you see users seeking language partners on the platform when you'd rather that they would be booking lessons with you. But I think it's great that the platform serves both as a marketplace for students to find teachers and as site where partners for language exchanges can arrange to meet. It attracts more users to the site, and ultimately a certain number of them will also end up deciding to book lessons with a teacher or tutor. However, your point about the unreliability of depending on meeting with another user for an ongoing series of language exchange sessions is valid. In my experience language exchanges seem to function best when they are arranged on an ad hoc basis, and I think it's definitely a plus that the platform is a place that new partners for exchanges can be quickly and easily found.

Conversation Exchange is probably better for language partners. I get the impression this site if more for teaching.