Well, I have a totally different perspective as I AM a (part time) in-home pet sitter and my friend/neighbor/associate has been a full time professional pet sitter (credentialed) for 25 plus years.
On the few occasions where I've had to be away overnight, I always have in-home pet sitters come in as I would never put my dogs in a commercial kennel, particularly the older and special needs dogs, not to mention my cat (who would be completely stressed to be away from home). It is much less stressful for animals to be in their own homes with their companions - esp. during holiday and peak vacation times when the commercial kennels are extremely busy and tend to "cut corners" on care given, including time outside of their cages (pretty darn close to crates in many facilities). I would only trust my pet sitters (who are well known to me) to give meds, eye drops, special diets, etc., and to give me ACCURATE reports. I am in daily contact with my pet sitters. I frankly don't trust commercial kennels and I don't care to have my pets exposed to other pets. I know two families who had dogs killed by other dogs at a commercial kennel (one that had an excellent reputation) and then there are the more routine problems of fleas, stress diarrhea, etc. And then we have the annual vaccination rule problems.
I am currently taking care of an 18 year old and 16 year old cat. I give subq fluids twice daily to the 16 year old as she is in kidney failure, and I must make sure that she is eating well so that I can adjust her fluids/meds if necessary. (Do you think she would eat well at a commercial boarding facility?) I am in at least daily contact (sometimes several times a day) with the owners of the cat - either email or cell phone - to give a report. I was also able to help these owners with a number of things related to the care of the cat in kidney failure - such as saving them a ton of money by informing them that they can buy fluid and linesets at Walmart pharmacy for LESS THAN 1/10th of what they were paying for the supplies purchased from their vet, etc. Believe me, these people love me and would never leave their cats at a commercial kennel. I have many clients that I've had for years who are very loyal.
Many years ago, I cared for a 2 year old Cavalier while the owners were on vacation for a week. I observed certain behavior during my visits that led me to meet with the owners upon their return, where I explained my concerns and recommended that they see a board certified internist. Turned out that the dog had a rare lung parasite (she subsequently died from this). I guarantee you that a commercial kennel would never have made this observation because the signs were subtle - heck, the owners hadn't even picked up the cues. Many boarding kennel workers are low paid, young people who are not particularly sophisticated about canine/feline health nor are they particularly observant. On another occasion, a client left home in the afternoon and when I arrived for my first early evening appt., I recognized that her dog was in acute congestive heart failure, and I rushed him to the ER and called her on my way. The owner had NOT recognized the symptoms before she left town! I called my backup sitter to finish my visits that evening while I stayed at the ER with the dog. (He later died in my arms at the ER.) The owner was comforted that he died with someone who cared about him rather than with strangers. I've had dogs with stress diarrhea that I've treated with appropriate meds and cooked bland diets for them, I've contacted vets, I've shampooed carpet - you name it, I've done it.
My clients are not crated but confined as they normally would be if the owner was at work, etc. Visits are often three or four times per day - and I time visits by dividing the number into 24 hours - even if it means that I don't get to sleep 8 hours during a holiday weekend. I have a written schedule and check off visits.
PROFESSIONAL pet sitters are extremely reliable (we have a back up system in the event of an emergency) and would never "skip" a visit. We are highly organized, have a schedule, and we are bonded and insured. (Many that I know are "young" retired professionals.) We are more reliable than someone's brother or neighbor. We are also well paid (which probably adds to our reliability versus a friend or relative). This is a profession, and we take our reputation seriously. Most of our new clients come from referrals from current clients. Many of us are much more knowledgeable about health care and behavior for dogs and cats (and birds) than are workers at commercial boarding kennels or, for that matter, than our clients.
The key is to find a reputable professional, check references, have a thorough meeting where expectations are outlined, etc., and follow up routinely with your sitter.
Sorry this is so long, but this really struck a nerve about something that is important to me both as a consumer and a provider. (I have an in home pet sitter visit my home every day as I work full time. The quality of my dogs' life is greatly enhanced by this.)
Karlin - all of those things that you described - poison, wires, chewing, breaking things - all of that can happen while a person is at work or away shopping for three or four hours or even asleep at night. I presume that people have enough sense to have their pets in areas that are safe whether they are out of town or not.
Pat
. A crate is NOT a suitable daily environment for a dog; it is a short term aid. Dogs are not snakes or goldfish that can be left to themselves in a container, they are highly social animals that need exercise and stimulation and room to move about. 
