That's been the rub about being a patron since the dawn of man though. Being a patron is supposed to be about supporting someone's life so that they have the freedom to do creative works that normally wouldn't pay enough to live on. It's not supposed to be about paying to get things, they are just a side effect of your support. That's why only the rich could ever afford to do it in the past. Patreon was never meant to be a store where you buy or rent things.
Actually I'd counter with those rich patrons being able to not only dictate activities, but remove patronage, should the creative individual not deliver in accordance with their wishes. Thus if the creative individual didn't deliver, they ceased funding. It is, in essence, paying someone to get something. The same would apply now; failing to deliver has a cost. In this case removing patronage.
Thus while it is good to remind people of their role as a patron, it is equally important to remind the role of the individuals receiving patronage that they must deliver or take specific actions to keep patrons abreast when such delivery will occur. It is, in fact, a two-sided system. That which applies then also applies now.