It's always nice to meet local people. Sharing cultures is a really unique experience, and no one knows the country better than local people! I'm used to hitchhiking which is a good way to meet people and I think the idea of couchsurfing is pretty similar. I don't think it's a service that goes in one way only because in return of bringing a service you recieve a lot from every new meetings you do. And I have to admit that because I'm a student I'm not able to afford a night in a hotel every day.