When you have a monthly subscription system and not a per update system no one is paying for delivered product but to support devs to keep doing what they are doing the way they are doing it. And that means allowing them to enjoy their leisure time and work at the pace they are confortable with. After all, no one is forcing patrons to keep their subscription active during the whole creative process - just pay the total amount you think the game deserve and don't hesitate to drop a subscription if you are not happy with the way dev is actually doing things or those things they do don't meet your expectations. But no patron has the right to tell dev to hurry up nor to change their vision, nor even to complete the game at all. By being a monthly patron you are just showing your appreciation; if there's nothing for you to appreciate anymore, just unsubscribe.
But take into account that if a dev starts losing patrons drastically due to poor communication or constantly failed promises, chances are the project will be abandoned altogether, they won't be motivated to change their approach to game developing because at that point they have already shown they are not really commited into creating a game. They'd simply quit or look for another 'easy' way of making money.
I'd really wish people started to understand Patreon is not Kickstarter. But no, it's easier to pay for something without understanding what you are paying for and then complain about how evil the system is.
so you basically saying patrons are atm machine for devs that can do whatever they want without any results or consequences?
my support is not for someone who is not committed to project, whose actions during certain period can not show me that he intend to finish job or at least trying hard to do it.
patronage and subscription are something completely different and patreon became mostly subscription service. for subscription you have right to demand something. it is your monthly committment to pay for something. definitelly not devs leisure time. why should i support someone's hobby when that person openly advocate this job as his second job. subscription is job and obligation and if you are not willing to commit or want to work at leisure, 2nd job speed, then be decent and bill what you delivered or move to buymeacoffee type support.
you say that i can pick ammount i want to give to artist and then stop. ok. i decide to support someone with 100$ and when i'm billed that much i stop and then i have no access to product. i gave to use pirate site.
patron system came from rennessaince and artists delivered end project. michelangelo didn't stop doing chapel by excusing himself to his patron by being busy, depressed or having other project as first job. he and many other artists worked hard for their patrons and respected them (here, i see lack of respect of certain devs toward their clients)
to conclude, you are the one who don't understand patronage system. patrons were supporting artists to deliver something free for everyone, community. they were proud that they were patrons of projects that benefits all.
here you even have to pay to read the post how project is developing. that is business, not support. real patronage will be immediatelly free access for everyone and who wants to support (monthly, per update, once...) can continue. that is essence of patronage. what we have at patreon (with growing number of devs, but not all) is business only. with no commitment or obligation.
personally i support one, and soon will start with second, because their work up to now show me they are professional, commited to their projects. their updates are not monthly but quantity and quality of their updates are guarantee of their commitment to project with large possibility of finishing it. and i don't consider myself patron, but subscriber. same way i'm subscribed to netflix and hbo