thanks I did not know that Steem did not have smart contracts. That explains why the bot code I am looking at has a refund mechanism.

That does make Steem perfect for a tipping app where service has already been rendered.

It may also work find for a prayer machine made by the fictional sons of jacob the elders in "The Handmaid's Tale". The prayers the women order for a donation are just played in a store front full of prayer machines. The prayers are for god to hear. I think if I set up a live stream that people can watch that would be sufficient.