I know what you mean. For me, payment is not as important as knowing the client really loves my art and respects me for the work.
My problem with commissioning is that *I* am making the artist draw what *I* want. ...I don't want that. XD I only want art from people who actually like my characters. I don't want to push my vision to others, if you know what I mean. I want to see theirs. Commissioning an artist and giving them total artistic freedom is pretty close, but not close enough...