And I kept waiting for us to find out what the hell that 'compensation'

I'm not sure I really expected that, particularly early season episodes don't tend to be hanging a gun on the wall so it can be used later set ups. Character, themes, big plot points yes, Jadoon compensation, not so much. That said you're right, it would have been funny if it had been it had been a quick solution to some problem down the road.

I'd have to write her the way I thought she was going to be before the series unfolded, and that would justifiably be dinged as writing her out of character.

(nods) I have several fics on the back burner (I'm terrible about starting things and then never finishing them) with non-canon-Martha and she's so much more interesting than canon-Martha. Of course I've completely forgotten the plot I was going for in those fics though most of them were going to turn into reunion fics at some point because I couldn't not do reunion fic, but even if stuff I consider now, I can't write her "in character" and manage her perspective; but the Martha I wanted to see, her I can write.