Right now a nostr user that pays a relay, do not have any guarantee of avoiding a rug pull.
Bad actors could just launch a "paid relay", stay online some months to accumulate sats and then shuts down and go.
We need kind of a reputation system.
Discussion
Same can be said about free relays. Relays cost in the hundreds to run and host data for potentially many bad actors , and do so in good faith.
Relays should all whitelist users to prevent bad actors from creeping in.
The same argument can be used for users.
This is a good point actually. But I think (for now) everyone running a paid relay has outed themselves as the operator. So if they rugged everyone, they would be ostracized by the community or, more fittingly Nostracized
Yes I know that reputable players will not do such idiocy for some sats. But be aware, the shitcoiners love to scam, they have into their bloood. And if they would have an opportunity to scam, will do it 100%.