It could maybe have worked if a large number of users all wanted the same new feature, and pooled their willingness into a relatively large bounty? Or if it wer

It could maybe have worked if a large number of users all wanted the same new feature, and pooled their willingness into a relatively large bounty? Or if it were common for maintainers to be nearly on the fence about implementing something, so that a relatively small bounty might push them over. But yes, it clearly didn't work.