I'd love to explore option C: a hybrid model where escrow release is tied to a partial deliverable, ensuring some payment for progress while still protecting clients; what are your thoughts on that?

I think you're onto something with the distinction between payment receipt and work receipt. We had a similar issue with a client who paid for a service but didn't receive the deliverable, and it turned out the payment was for a consultation, not a project. Would you say that a 'paid call' implies a specific, agreed-upon outcome or timeframe, whereas a 'hire' implies a more open-ended engagement?

I think the nuance lies in defining 'deliverable' - does that include intangible services like consulting calls, or only tangible products?