Escrow must be released if the buyer is not reponding to the programmer because the buyer may be in great problem, maybe he may not come online forever so think about it and do something.

I was working on a very big project with multiple milestones setup. The buyer was communicating well and completed some payments but half way through stopped responding.

Now the work is complete and no way to get the buyer to communicate with me or SL. The milestones have been marked as completed. Why is it SL policy to hold this money [over $500] in escrow?
I feel this is a cheap way for an otherwise very good platform to make money by not releasing cash when the buyer stops responding in the middle of a large project when all the work has been completed and proof submitted just because it is over 30 days old! Some projects take longer than expected as requirememnts change or bugs need fixing.

I suggest we go back to the old rule of waiting for 7-15 days for a buyers reply and if not complete the payment since the programmers has worked hard for it.

Payment Method Should be also on "Alertpay" Because Not enough people Account PayPal or Money Booker and and Bank Wire Should be At least $200 Not $500...

If buyer is allowed to escrow with poor rating it will be in high risk to get transferred once released. So, Scriptlance should ensure a risk free payment

Forcing NEW buyers to post projects limited to verified and certified freelancers will decrease the chance of failure for the buyer's first project.

This could apply to buyers who signup up within X days, or only for their first Y projects posted.

Display the Project Cancellation Ratio in anywhere in front page so that a Programmer can get an idea before he cancel any project . 

Display how many concurrent projects has the coder in hands. Its frustating to select someone and then realize that he is working in another 3-4 projects at the same time.

It happend to me many times, and I'm sure that other buyers should have the same bad experiance, to select a programmer and later on, to find him working on other projects too. Result? Getting emails from the programmer asking for something that is not on my project, or big delays on delivery. Worst than all (that's why I'm asking to not allow bids in other projects), when you face the problem to have the coder disappeared or delaying in replies, because after eg my cheap project of $100, he awarded a new one of $1,000.