There may be some affiliate reps making $$$, but after spending years of sending traffic myself, then being an affiliate rep, and now back to doing my own stuff again, I can tell you the least amount of money I made in the past 12 years was being an affiliate rep.
BUT they are usually the ones that seem to buying the food, drinks, strippers, etc. so it LOOKS like they're rolling in dough. And so many people in this biz are so happy when someone buys them something, lol! Most people can't see past the freebies to realize the reps are expensing those goodies, not paying for it themselves ;)
Oh, and a lot of times they're "fun to hang out with" because they have to be
