Donate implies freely given to me, but if I were to get some sort of finished copy I definitely prefer hard copy, it's much easier on the eyes than a computer screen. How much I would pay really depends on my experience of the author- if it's someone I would buy the books of in a bookstore, I'm willing to pay at least that much for the same work, published or not.

That said, whether I'd be willing to pay definitely depends on my perception of the reliability of updates- I know real life happens, but if I'm paying for a book I do expect a certain regularity of update or at least explanations. Flexibility is okay, unfinished is not. With a new-to-me author I'd prefer to know that most or all of the book is written before they start posting. A familiar favorite I might be more willing to just trust.

Anything Liaden gets my vote, I don't need to know anything more. I have not yet had the chance to read the Jen Pierce novels, but I hope to resolve that shortly; but I'm really panting over the next book after I Dare.