I'm not seeing what point you are trying to make.

What other option do these researchers have? Try to sell the vuln on the black market (illegal) or to a state actor (unethical and likely illegal)? Keep quiet about what they found and not get any money/recognition?

Companies are under no obligation to pay and researchers are under no obligation (except ethics, I guess) to turn over their findings. By having some non-trivial payment the companies are encouraging people to provide cheap sec audits for them.