The second method is a method to “determine as a community what we want the bounty to be for each task”, and it’s more likely to produce good results than having a discussion and then someone announcing what the community has decided. However, pledging may not be the right solution, because people may doubt that enough people will honor their pledges. Perhaps actually donating, with the donations returned in X months or years if the task isn’t completed by someone by then?
The second method is a method to “determine as a community what we want the bounty to be for each task”, and it’s more likely to produce good results than having a discussion and then someone announcing what the community has decided. However, pledging may not be the right solution, because people may doubt that enough people will honor their pledges. Perhaps actually donating, with the donations returned in X months or years if the task isn’t completed by someone by then?
Fundable is a good solution to raise a set amount of money while not putting anyone on the line for the failure of others to follow through.
I know there a number of service precisely for carrying out assurance contracts like these; do you have any particular one to recommend?
Nope; never used one.