To be honest, there's been too many situations where I commission an artist, then they flat out disappear. It's happened so many times, I just got sick of it. Even artists that have many commissions in their gallery. They usually disappear
Getting adopts is less risky in my opinion. When you send the payment, you get the file quicker and you can fave the auction page just in case the artist decides to bounce.
Idk why I'm writing this, but I'm just looking back on unfinished commissions and I'm just frustrated. Like, damn if you were going to scam me, I might as well wasted my money on other things.

EDIT: I'm not saying "never commission artists" I'm just saying why I rarely do it