I am being terribly inconsistent in my declarations but I missed this email and it merits an answer:
There isn't a "whole new dynamic" created here because the smaller brand/IP would mean less exposure for the modder in question. Even if they got a higher percentage, it would be equaled out by the lesser sales generated due to smaller exposure.
And that's operating off of the assumption that the owner of the smaller IP/brand would even be interested in increasing the percentage for modders at all, as well as supporting modding in general, which is a fairly big one to make given the nature of some of the companies out there.
So I should essentially twist my fingers and hope for the best?
I am afraid that you miss the point. They wouldn't be interested in increasing the percentage for modders or give a bigger percentage to a modder from the goodness of their heart. They will, only if it makes financial sense and only to the modders that "can claim it" obviously. Modding IS profitable if done right that is the reason Valve wants to get involved.
The person who did the SkyUI mod will be getting emails for considering creating a mod in the store by various mod-enabled games in the next two years. And there will be more mod-enabled games because there will be a market and marketplace for them.
This isn't conjecture or hopping for the best, it's basic commerce. No good will or good intentions involved, just plain old profit.
Bigger names will use their IP power and user base to lure modders with skill that want to create a name for them selves (while making some money) and then they, the successful modders, in turn will market this experience and exposure to the next big or smaller IP holder. Why were those specific modders approached you think exactly?
inXile for example have used the Unity store to create game assets by proposing to individuals to create assets for them (in "controversial" terms). I don't know if you are familiar but there are plenty of asset stores that work successfully in pretty much the same way.
I get people being opposed for some ideological reason, but not seeing the dynamics? (Actually from what I understand the backlash and the fear stems from exactly the realization of the business dynamic a store by Valve creates, by polluting and tainting the pure and selfless community).
Simply saying that it could be addressed sometime in the future due to this having supposedly "been solved in the software world ten times over" is vague and meagre arguement given we are currently grappling with its ramifications now; This is hypothetical pro at the very best.
Again not a conjecture, just a fact from world wide business experience.
Perhaps my mistake is that I assumed people would be acquainted with this. I don't know if it will help or make things worse but here is a tangible example: we use the Yii framework (free open source) and Apache Flex (free open source) to create a paid solution that incorporates both. Then we sell happily the outcome. This is done globally with so many software parts, plugins etc that really is hard to convey.
The legal parts, agreements, technicalities are all sorted out because this is what people with financial incentive do (solve things and move on*). The beginning is bumpy, mistakes are made, big kahunas try to growl louder and claim what more they can, others fight them, others outrage and preach doom and then it gets sorted and life goes on.
Take a look in the reddit session of Gabe, if you have the time, to see how people like Iced_Eagle (that I posted earlier) approached the situation (contrast it with the entitled little criers) and maybe you will understand what I mean that the technicalities and terms will get sorted out.
No good will or goodness, just business.
It's not really that interesting considering the scheme you discuss as being unable to work is already in place in the largest modding website (Nexus). If there had been any real concern from any IP holders regarding this then it's unlikely that said scheme would have persisted for as long as it has. Previously, so long as donations didn't act as a perquisite for the mod itself nor were actively enticed for future reward, donations could be made to the mod author. So you can see why people don't see too much of a problem with some sort of donation scheme being established for the Workshop.
The fact that it does not work is evident by the fact that modders do not get money (and that the "serious" ones really don't dislike the idea of the Valve store). And the game creators don't make (direct) money (or more money if you like, since they are greedy bastards). and the fact that Valve has space to create a store.
The only ones that this works for is the Nexus site obviously, and the people that get free stuff; free stuff is AWESOME!
(with the respectful exception of all those who's motives are true and chaste; I can't possible tell who they are since I do not know them personally, but they can save themselves the trouble of getting pissed, because they are obviously the exception)
(I am being a smart ass, but I am sincere in my statement that there are of course exceptions).
*Unless you are Apple, then you go nuclear in their ass