Unfortunately that might work at first but then they'd probably just cancel it due to "insufficient funding". They know exactly what they are doing and have no shame whatsoever.
I see no difference.
In the current state of affairs the game will never be completed.
They just won't give up the free funding for anything.
To be fair, no one would.
If there's one chance in our favor is just that.
STOP the funding immediately.
Reach out to those Patreons.