> the idea that companies ruthlessly avoid paying bounties, which is, on information and belief, flatly false
Eh, it's likely usually true, but I've worked for a company which was attracted to the bounty program idea mainly for the optics and very much did push back on/was very reluctant to pay out on bounties.
And when I say "for the optics" I mean not only for the company being able to boast about having a bounty program but also the executive in question having something for his quarterly report. Having it not be too expensive was definitely part of the deal.
Needless to say this was a terrible company with terrible leadership, but it's a data point...