I have seen situations where bounty hunters are side-tracked after providing their services towards the success of ICO projects. It is either they are paid less as against initial agreement, or they are not paid at all. I would have mentioned the names of some of those projects, which succeeded, are already listed and yet did not pay bounty hunters. Some things really need to change. We are to be treated with respect, most especially the honest bounty hunters.
There are many reasons given by project developers to answer this question. Because they do not want to pay early for bounty hunters for worrying the bounty hunter will sell it all right after the receipt will negatively affect them. The number of exponents lacks because they say bounty hunters have not done a good job of their own, but I think they are trying to keep the tokens for themselves for the MONEY.
Yes that is one way to do it to prevent participants from selling the tokens so can have the highest potential.
But I believe there are ways to handle this better, like locking yhe coins for around a year or 6 mos.
After that they can do whatever they like.
But this should be stated clearly in ann thread or telegram channel or wherever works for them.
This is in a way show of respect