I know you probably mean prostitutes or "escorts", but aren't porn actors also sex workers? I watch porn all the time, so do a lot of people. I feel sorry for the sad sacks who aren't "allowed" to look at porn because their significant other is so goddamn insecure, the idea of their partner having their own private thoughts scares the shit out of them.
You are correct, but people treat "prostitute" like it's a slur and thereby (wittingly or not) wildly obfuscate any conversation one attempts to have about them and their clientele, etc.