Those covered up to July 30th of this year. A SAG actor would probably get the $880 day rate.
I think the main reason they don’t want people paying to get on, or getting paid to come on (aside from the SAG rate) is the bookers would be inundated with requests and complaints. In show biz anything anyone does that you don’t like is scandalous, those people are soooooooooo dramatic about everything.
As you mention, it’s just easier to make side deals than to pay someone or receive payment directly. The news programs use that kind of subterfuge to say they never pay for stories.