Perhaps FFC wanted to five Richard Bright a few speaking lines. He had none in GF and very few in II until the end.

To your point about salary:
SPOILER:


Novel states that, after Neri whacked Moe Green, Michael rewarded him with a rich living from an Upper East Side (NYC) book. But, he didn't have a regime, unlike Rocco, who, we learned from Tom, was building a regime under Clemenza for the Day When Michael Settled All Family Affairs.