Affordability is different to declaring your position at the outset.

For example, when I buy a used car or a house, I know what my budget is. But I'm not telling the seller that upfront. Because my budget does not mean I want to pay the top end of the budget. I'd rather pay below my budget if I can.

The only excuse for forcing employers to do declare is that you want to hold them to a higher ethical standard. Not because there's no reason to do otherwise strategically.