> The ordinary way it works is that payments are tranched; you're paid in chunks, up to some cap, until the vulnerability is burnt.

Eh, it is very complicated. On one end of the spectrum you can take a cash payout up front for less money, on the other end you are under contract to keep an arsenal with specific coverage at a minimum fixed size. Brokers exist to trade risk for upside and shield parties from each other.

I think we are in alignment on your second point. Oil rich companies lack domestic talent but have massive war chests of money. I have some insights into the numbers they are throwing around to skilled foreign workers and while it is clear the numbers are stupid big, it is nothing in comparison to running a HUMINT asset or buying a drone.