The attraction to me is in a girls face be she GG or TG, it's their face that initiates the initial attraction. That coupled with a good personality and ability to conversate in an intelligent manner goes way further than huge tits, cock, ass, or pussy.
I don't mean to knock anyone's choice of lifestyle when I say this. I find the term 'normal' to be complete bullshit. You used 'normal' in a way that imparts the idea that it is defined by social acceptance. (ex. "She was a young transsexual woman who desired more than anything to live a normal life.") I am one who goes against the grain of society so I admit my view is a bit skewed. We as humans are imparted with a concious sentient mind (free will) if you will, allowing us to be unique individuals instead of carbon-copies like ants in a colony. Thus it is quite 'normal' to be as varied as possible, and it is societial pressures that lead us to conform to a set standard.
Anyway, it is a complete folly to be a 'tg' prostitute and expect to be treated any different than a 'gg' prostitute, who run the same risk of physical harm if not greater if they have a 'pimp' who may occasionally beat on her to keep her 'in-line'.
Cost associated with transitioning is different for everyone and what expectations they have for themselves. Not all tg's desire or need to have the vast cosmetic surgeries many tgirls go through. Remember cosmetic surgery isn't covered by Insurance for nearly anyone. I know a white tg who goes to film school in Philly. She has already had a great majority of the procedures she wishes to have surgerically without ever 'escorting' and still paying her way through college and she isn't even 25 yet. What she did was real simple too. She saved up every red cent she made growing up with little to no bills while living with parents, before 'coming out' as a tg and when she was ready to put on her proverbial 'dress and step into the world' as a female she had more than enough to help pay for her transition. I'm sure it helps that she doesn't chase the materialistic things in life, like overly expensive 'labels' from the hottest clothing designers and such. She focuses on her education and her film career which has already taken off, as she serves as Producer and Director for various Film Projects.
Tgirls choose to escort, they are not forced to do it. They are attracted to the fast, seemingly easy cash. Though I don't wish bad on anyone, any form of 'criminal enterprise' is bound to be dangerous. Thus to escort is to court with that danger. They have to be smart about their business to be successful at it and most are, but there are always times when someone may slip up. No one stops a 'tg' from getting a regular 9 to 5 job or going to school and getting an education. Frankly, I get tired of the excuses for 'tricking'. Especially when I've seen older tg's who aren't even close to being as passable as some of our models, are working jobs. Transitioning is a hard road for sure, there's no doubt about it, but many put additional hardships on themselves and those 'hardships' doesn't come from society at large. Society has made many strides at excepting tgirls, and many of the horror stories you hear (which I don't condone in any way, shape, or form) rarely paint the full picture of what might have actually happened.
Here's an article I read earlier today, you may find of interest and shows the level of acceptance that does exist to go along with the examples you gave above regarding ANTM:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29303880
