Quick answer: Players who file bug reports rarely hear back. A small thank-you program (in-game cosmetics, shoutouts, early access) builds long-term loyalty and increases report quality.
An in-game thank-you for a bug report is the most-effective player loyalty tool I've seen.
In-game cosmetic
Unique icon, hat, or color attached to the player's profile. 'Bug Hunter' designation visible to others.
Tier by quality
Sev-1 reports = unique cosmetic. Sev-2 = thank-you note. Sev-3 = changelog mention. Tiers reward quality.
Discord shout-out
Weekly post: 'Thanks to these players for finding bugs this week'. Public; visible to the community.
Track per-player report count
Top reporters get personal thank-you notes. The cost is minimal; the loyalty is real.
“Recognition costs nothing and produces loyalty. Don't skip it.”
Pilot the program for one quarter. Compare report count and quality vs. the prior quarter. The data usually speaks.