It has worked for me. I was contacted by an AS member and picked up quite a few pickup loads of nice wood last year. Some oak, some cherry, and some very nice locust.
But I went to HIM, on HIS schedule. (And felt bad when I was late a couple of times. Traffic sometimes will kill your best intentions!)
I didn't come on here asking for free wood to be delivered, and I didn't come on here specifying what varieties I would deign to take, either. I took what he had and was very glad to get it.
Especially that locust!
Saved him some dump fees, heated my house for almost free. Sounds like a good deal for BOTH of us. Maybe there's something to that.
I was also contacted by another AS member who had a big oak coming down, but turned out he was 5 1/2 hours drive from me. I had to pass on that!
Since then I've found a log processor who has a lot of log ends that he'd rather give away than pay to have hauled away. You know what? I take what he puts on my truck. I get poplar and some other stuff I'd just as soon pass on, but it's an endless supply and he's glad to see me drive up. Oh well, I also get plenty of good oak and the occasional hickory log end.
Me suspects that beggars who are picky just might not appeal to a lot of folks.