I agree that it appears to have been the disclosure threat that resulted in the bounty, but I don't agree (if I'm reading you correctly) that the OP acted uneth

I agree that it appears to have been the disclosure threat that resulted in the bounty, but I don't agree (if I'm reading you correctly) that the OP acted unethically. It sounds credible to me that he was just doing everything he could to get the bug fixed.