These days, there are a bunch of platforms — Noble, Hotelux, etc. — that allow you to book Virtuoso rates online. It’s no longer a new concept, and I never had problems with the reservations not being made, or unilaterally being cancelled. I wouldn’t worry about the integrity of reservations made through Classic Travel (being the OG), in the same vein. They just plug into the same API. (That said, the others do provide confirmation emails, unlike the complaints about Classic above)

Again, the main issue is the quality of service vs. a TA whom you know.