Check out this for conversion ratios back then.
https://gfy.com/showthread.php?t=992899 Some people will bitch but overall it's in the ballpark. In the early 00's if someone converted 1:1000 I thought they were shaving. If someone converted 1:1000 in 1999 I
knew they were shaving me.
Now for most affiliates if someone converts 1:1000 they are a good sponsor on the straight side of adult.
There's a lot more to it such as more bad countries and more competition but you get the point.