XCR does not receive a bonus for earlier conversion. Since XCR already represents an existing share in the distribution regardless of outcome regardless of when it is converted, it makes sense that it doesn't receive a bonus.
just when i thought i was starting to understand the ICO....
Yeah, I don't understand that statement either.
To clarify, the only practical alternatives for XCR are to convert to Lisk or sell it for another coin, most notably, Bitcoin. It is, in a way, a sharedrop for for the existing investors who funded creating the base technology for Lisk but flexible in that conversion results in a stake based on how much additional funding is received instead of being a fixed percentage. Maybe it could be argued that XCR holders should receive the bonus as well since they are foregoing the option to sell instead of holding to see how the ICO pans out, but the sale price can be expected to increase as the ICO progresses and the BTC bonuses diminish if there is a strong interest in the ICO throughout the period.