1) money to fund the project isn't a problem. NEM has more than enough liquidity and marketcap.
2) the problem is time and resources to run the project. it is actually quite an endeavor. the marketing team is instead trying to build projects on NEM that will make it a lot more famous, so those take priority for the time being. at some point we might have more human resources and can assign a team to run this project, but right now the teams are focused on other things that we consider a higher priority, like refining marketing message, website, and partnerships.
3) if the money for some reason isn't used to fund silver coins, it would go towards some other social program to help the community, like maybe Supernodes or Community Fund. at no point would it be used for a tip for the NEM team, nor the community as a direct payout.
As an original stake holder I would prefer these funds go into the supernode fund myself.