It almost always gets interpreted as " I don't care if I don't get it back for a very long time." They usually start out like gangbusters then push it aside and never seem to get back on it again

Been there, done that. A "friend" quoted me a price on chopping a top. A decent price. He was just beginning to build. I agreed, BUT he kept getting other jobs where he could make more money..."no problem, go ahead". He did the job about halfway through and quit. After 7 years he decides to get serious and start and 'oh!, by the way, I don't work for that'. I paid him what he wanted and took it to the house.