Spending money isn’t bad, but reckless, inefficient, or opaque spending is.

Well said. I too think that a system with reviewers could be very beneficial. If reviewers are experienced in their field, it wouldn't take them much time to check the plan for what is to be done, how it is to be done, and requested funds for it. And then to check the implementation and release funds accordingly. I guess both sides (the proposal creators and the DHF voters) have to trust the reviewers to do a reasonable assessment of things and to have in mind the best interest of all involved.