Bennies and the like are not the only mechanical incentive a game can create. Blades for instance gives you xp for being in a desperate situation, it encourages players to get their characters in hot water. Pendragon says hey you are 15 gluttonous, if you are a bit more you'll be famous. Go on.

Rolling a desperate test in Blades isn't RP so isn't really relevant. Pendragon is an interesting example, i's a much more complex model of behaviour though. If love to see it in action.