Better to pay something rather than scamming users or delaying payment for years, it can be in form of Bounty token or stable altcoins. The low class crypto exchanges keep asking KYC from Bounty hunters due to partnership with new project but the domino effect will be cause bad image for project development. Btw, to avoid shady possible cases escrow should be mandatory category for Bounty managers.
But at the end of the day, it is the choice of the bounty hunter to join the program.
This is the risk they are getting into this kind of promotion. As there is no security of payment.
The project itself has their own prerogatives what to give to their participants.
This is why you need to agree or accept their terms before signing up.
We can't dictate these project owners to get an escrow or use stable coin for payment.
Because it is their project and they have their own reasons why they want to pay their own token or coin.
If you are not amenable to their terms, don't look for bounty programs but go to btc-paying campaigns handled by reputable managers.